This is the 1749th issue of Hong Kong One Day
The HKSAR Government and the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region strongly condemn it
On the 31st, the Hong Kong SAR Government strongly condemned and opposed the untrue remarks and slander and smears made by some US and Western countries (including the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Australia, etc.), anti-China organizations, anti-China politicians, and foreign media against the Hong Kong SAR Court of First Instance ruling on the conspiracy to subvert state power case on the 30th.
A spokesman for the HKSAR Government said that after a public trial on 118 days, after careful consideration of the relevant legal principles, as well as the massive evidence and submissions of the prosecution and defence, the court issued a clear statement of reasons for its verdict clearly indicating that there was an act of conspiracy to subvert state power in this case, with the aim of undermining, destroying or overthrowing the existing political system and structure of the HKSAR established by the Basic Law and the "one country, two systems" principle. Such criminal acts that endanger national security have absolutely nothing to do with the so-called struggle for democracy and human rights. A total of 47 persons were prosecuted in this case, and all but 2 persons were found to be insufficient to prove that the court had participated in the conspiracy offence, and all 45 persons were convicted, demonstrating the scale and seriousness of the criminal scheme. The Hong Kong Department of Justice has made clear to the court its intention to appeal against the decisions of the two defendants.
The spokesman emphasised that under the protection of the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights, all persons facing criminal charges have the right to a fair trial by a judicial body with independent jurisdiction. The courts of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) adjudicate independently and without any interference.
The case of conspiracy by 47 people to subvert state power was handed down in the Hong Kong West Kowloon Court on the 30th.
The spokesman reiterated that in its 318-page judgment, the court clearly set out the justifications and considerations for his conviction, and also established that the offence of conspiracy to subvert state power had occurred in this case. The HKSAR Government strongly demands that the United States and Western countries, anti-China organizations, anti-China politicians and foreign media immediately stop interfering in China's internal affairs and Hong Kong affairs, and stop making any false reports or malicious smears on the adjudication of the relevant cases.
In response to the false reports and malicious smears, the spokesperson of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in Hong Kong also expressed strong dissatisfaction.
The spokesman pointed out that under the constitutional order of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) under the Constitution and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, there has never been a so-called "primary election" in Hong Kong's electoral system, and the so-called "primary election" has no legal basis. The anti-China and destabilizing elements involved in the case manipulated Hong Kong's election through illegal "primary elections" and undermined the fairness of the election, which was a complete taint and departure from the spirit of democracy. The so-called "primary election" is aimed at paralyzing the SAR government and subverting state power, and it is not an exercise of democratic rights at all, but an outright act that endangers national security, and no country will tolerate such an act.
The spokesperson stressed that some countries do not reflect on whether their own strict national security law violates human rights and freedoms, but make groundless accusations against the Hong Kong judiciary for the fair implementation of the national security law. Ignoring the evil deeds of anti-China and destabilizing elements in Hong Kong who conspire to subvert state power, but clamoring for sanctions, pressure and coercion, and meddling in undermining the rule of law in Hong Kong, their sinister intentions of fearing that Hong Kong and China will not be chaotic have been fully exposed once again! We urge certain countries to abide by the principles of international law and the basic norms governing international relations, abandon hypocritical double standards, abandon "using Hong Kong to contain China", and immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs in any way.
Hong Kong Executive Council member, senior counsel Tong Jiahua said in an interview on the 31st that the trial was relatively long but very public, and the ruling also showed that the court considered different evidence in detail, reflecting that the trial, execution and interpretation of cases involving the Hong Kong National Security Law are in accordance with the common law principle under "one country, two systems", and it also shows that the common law system is implemented in Hong Kong as always. Tong Jiahua pointed out that the update of the so-called travel warning for Hong Kong by the United Kingdom and other Western countries, as well as the warning of the so-called political risks of going to Hong Kong, are all unsubstantiated accusations, and he hopes that the society will know who is lying.
The Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, also responded to the case of conspiracy to subvert state power at an event today. Chan said that most of the defendants in the case had already been convicted, and the court's ruling reflected that the national security risk was real in Hong Kong. The purpose of the defendant in the case was to undermine Hong Kong and disrupt Hong Kong's constitutional system, thereby paralyzing the Hong Kong SAR Government, and even using Hong Kong as a base to curb the development of the country.
Chan Kwok-ki mentioned that he was saddened by the conviction led by Tai Yiu-ting, a legal scholar with professional knowledge, who had committed such acts to undermine Hong Kong. At the same time, he also mentioned that some US and Western countries often use democracy and freedom as a cover to poison young people, especially students, and make them mistakenly believe that irrational behaviors such as "throwing petrol bombs" are democracy and freedom. Chen Guoji stressed that these are not democratic freedoms, because the way to pursue them is to paralyze the government, or to throw petrol bombs and destroy shops all over the streets. Society should clearly understand that the relevant acts have nothing to do with democracy and freedom. All citizens, especially young people, should be vigilant and not be deceived by the relevant remarks of the United States and the West. The HKSAR Government will also spare no effort to combat anti-China and destabilizing acts in Hong Kong, and work with all sectors of the community to safeguard national security.
Chen Guoji added that there have been "color revolutions" in many parts of the world, and the result is that the society is "in chaos", and the people are struggling to make a living, and I believe that the public does not want such a situation to happen in Hong Kong, but fortunately, the Hong Kong National Security Law and the "Safeguarding National Security Ordinance" have come into effect, so that Hong Kong can return to normal and refocus on people's livelihood and economic development.
The trade unions demonstrated to denounce the EU's double standard
On the afternoon of the 31st, the Social Affairs Committee of the Federation of Trade Unions demonstrated downstairs of the European Union office in Hong Kong to protest against the EU's support for anti-China and destabilizing elements who violated the law and discipline, and Legislative Council member Leung Tsz-wing took the lead in condemning it. In the meantime, the staff of the EU Office in Hong Kong came forward to accept the letter of protest.
Source: Point News
Leung stressed that the series of arrests by the Hong Kong police are in accordance with the "Safeguarding National Security Ordinance" in accordance with the law, and that the EU has a double standard, denigrates the rule of law in Hong Kong, endangers national security, and is an enemy of the justice of the whole world.
The Federation of Trade Unions pointed out that each country has its own national security regulations, the purpose of which is to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of mankind on the earth and promote cooperation among countries in the world. "The EU's practice of double standards not only violates the basic principles of international relations, but also violates certain security rules."
Source: Point News
Leung said that after the implementation of the "Ordinance on Safeguarding National Security", the public and the international community are happy to see the continuous progress of Hong Kong's social order and the continuous improvement of the business environment, and hopes that the EU government will clearly see the reality that "Hong Kong's development will get better and better, and the citizens will also get better and better", and not misjudge the situation and be used by anti-China and destabilizing elements in Hong Kong.
Chan Kwok-ki: It is the proper duty of the social welfare sector to have a correct understanding of the country Exchange in the mainland is the most effective way
The social welfare sector organized thousands of social workers in Hong Kong to see the motherland - "Heart to Heart" Chaozhou High-speed Rail Exchange Group, and the first group visited Chaozhou on the morning of the 31st for a three-day and two-night exchange. More than 300 staff members from more than 50 social welfare organisations and the Social Welfare Department (SWD) who have received lump sum funding from the Social Welfare Department (SWD) participated in the exchange tour, and the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Sun Yuk-han, also accompanied the delegation.
The Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Chan Kwok-ki, attended the launching ceremony of the "Hong Kong Thousands of Social Workers See the Motherland" Mainland Exchange Group on the 31st, saying that it is the responsibility of the social welfare sector to have a correct and in-depth understanding of the country.
In his speech, Chan Kwok-ki said that he hoped that the social welfare sector would bring two "hearts" to participate in this exchange group. The first heart is the patriotic "heart". President Xi Jinping once said: "Patriotism is the core of the Chinese national spirit, and the vast number of Hong Kong compatriots have always had a glorious tradition of loving the country and Hong Kong, which is an important foundation for the steady and successful implementation of 'one country, two systems'." He believes that everyone agrees that "there is no country without a home" and that "loving the country and Hong Kong" has always been a core value of Hong Kong, which needs to be jointly upheld and promoted by all sectors of society.
Source: Information Services Department of the HKSAR Government
Chan Kwok-ki pointed out that as a very important member of Hong Kong society, it is of course the responsibility and duty of the social welfare sector to have a correct and in-depth understanding of the country and the nation. One of the most direct and effective ways to learn about the country's development in different areas through exchanges in the Mainland is to learn first-hand. He hoped that the social welfare sector would seize the opportunity of the Mainland exchange tour to strengthen national identity and pride, so as to think about how to better leverage Hong Kong's strengths and contribute to the needs of the country.
Chen Guoji continued to point out that the second "heart" is the "heart" of service. Social welfare work has a long way to go, and social welfare workers are the most important group of people who go to the forefront of society, shouldering the responsibility of solving the problems and worries of the general public, especially the grassroots people. He has great admiration for the social welfare sector, and believes that the work of the social welfare sector is very important and great, and has contributed to the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.
He hoped that the social welfare sector would gain something during the trip and work together to further improve the level of social welfare services in Hong Kong, so that the general public can have a greater sense of gain and happiness.
Author丨Ye Junyan, the chief writer of Shenzhen Satellite TV Direct News