“හොංකොං ආර්ථික වෙළඳ කාර්යාලය සහතික කිරීමේ පනත” ට විරෝධය

China to take resolute countermeasures against US malicious legislation on HK: spokesperson

China will take resolute countermeasures if the United States insists on going ahead with the so-called Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) Certification Act, and even closing the offices, said a spokesperson with the Commissioner's Office of China's Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong on Wednesday (Sep. 11).

The statement came after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the act on Tuesday.

The spokesperson strongly condemned and firmly opposed the passage of the act that calls for the cancellation of privileges and exemptions of the HKETOs in the United States and even closing these offices, saying it smears Hong Kong's international reputation and undermines the region's foreign trade and economic cooperation.

Noting that the HKETOs established overseas serve as the official representatives of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the spokesperson said that their successful operation is conductive to expanding practical economic and trade cooperation between Hong Kong and relevant countries and regions.

The three economic and trade offices set up by Hong Kong in the United States have played a positive role in promoting mutual benefits between the two sides, said the spokesperson.

The United States has significant economic interests in Hong Kong. Over the past decade, the U.S. trade surplus with Hong Kong has exceeded 270 billion U.S. dollars, the highest among its global trading partners. Additionally, the spokesperson noted that more than 1,200 U.S. companies have invested and established businesses in Hong Kong.

The spokesperson slammed the United States for holding on to the Cold War mentality, engaging in electoral politics, politicizing and instrumentalizing economic and trade issues at the expense of the interests of both the United States and relevant companies.

The United States attempts to use the act to disrupt normal exchanges and cooperation between Hong Kong and the U.S., and undermine the normalization process of China-U.S. relations, the spokesperson stated.

Since the enactment and implementation of the Law on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR and the Safeguarding National Security Bill of Hong Kong, Hong Kong's prosperity and stability have been better guaranteed, and the foundation of Hong Kong's governance and prosperity has become more solid, said the spokesperson.

A higher level of security helps to strengthen Hong Kong's status as an international financial, shipping, and trade center, better protect the lawful rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents, and further consolidate, optimize and enhance the business environment in the SAR, the spokesperson added.

The advantages of the rule of law in Hong Kong are rock-solid, and the implementation of "One Country, Two Systems" is progressing steadily in the right direction, the spokesperson noted.

The spokesperson emphasized that Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong, and China will never allow any external forces to interfere in Hong Kong affairs.

China urges the United States to recognize the facts as soon as possible, immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs, stop using Hong Kong to contain China. Otherwise, such reckless actions will inevitably backfire on the U.S. itself, said the spokesperson.

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