"Patriots govern Hong Kong" brook no beak from external forces

Source: People's Daily - People's Daily

On October 21, local time, the US State Department again released noise on Hong Kong-related issues, making irresponsible remarks about Hong Kong's democratic development and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's administration according to law and the cancellation of the qualifications of some district councilors in accordance with the law, smearing and slandering the Hong Kong National Security Law, and supporting and cheering up anti-China and chaotic Hong Kong elements. This is a blatant act of naked interference in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs. The entire Chinese people, including the broad masses of Hong Kong people, are fully able to see through this old trick of using double standards to prop up the mask of hypocrisy.

It must be pointed out that the US statement talked a lot about the so-called "Hong Kong freedom" issue, with the intention of reversing right and wrong and obliterating the achievements of Hong Kong's rule of law and benefiting the people. The object of the US side's repeated "continued support" is by no means the broad masses of the people in Hong Kong, but the people who have brought calamity to Hong Kong and chaos in Hong Kong. The ironclad facts show that the US side's attempt to let its agents carry out the Hong Kong version of the "color revolution" will not work at all, and it will not be possible to "chaos Hong Kong and curb China" at all, and it is also futile to pull together individual politicians from a small number of Western countries, such as Britain and Australia.

Only by upholding the rule of law in Hong Kong and using the rule of law thinking and rule of law methods to ensure the stability and long-term stability of "one country, two systems" and the long-term peace and stability of Hong Kong can we protect the fundamental interests of the broad masses of the people in Hong Kong. Hong Kong has made all-round efforts in all aspects of legislation, law enforcement, judiciary and law abiding, effectively plugging the loopholes in safeguarding national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, removing obstacles, traps and threats on the road of Hong Kong's development to the greatest extent, and laying a solid bottom line for protecting the safety and well-being of the broad masses of the people in Hong Kong, thus effectively ensuring that Hong Kong people can better exercise their freedoms and rights under peaceful and tranquil social conditions. There is no doubt that the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has taken action against anti-China and chaotic Hong Kong elements and organizations in accordance with the law, which is just, reasonable and lawful, and conforms to the will of the people.

Safeguarding national security, firmly holding the power of state and local governance in the hands of patriots, establishing a system of oath of allegiance accordingly, clarifying the qualifications of public officials, and ensuring their national identity and political loyalty are the norms of international practice. It must be emphasized that "patriots governing Hong Kong" is a fundamental principle that has a bearing on national sovereignty, security, and development interests, and on Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability; the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government' disqualification of relevant district councilors in strict accordance with the provisions of the law and in accordance with legal procedures is a necessary move to safeguard the constitutional order of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and implement the principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong," and no external forces are allowed to question or interfere.

Practice has fully proved that only by achieving "patriots governing Hong Kong" can the overall jurisdiction of the central authorities over the special administrative region be effectively implemented, the constitutional order established by the Constitution and the Basic Law can be effectively maintained, and various deep-seated problems can be effectively resolved; only by continuously integrating into the overall situation of national development can Hong Kong continue to gain new opportunities for sustainable development. The Recent Breakthrough and Forward-thinking "Northern Metropolitan Area Development Strategy" proposed by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has been universally welcomed, and the hong Kong people's confidence in the prospects of the Greater Bay Area is growing, and they are more hopeful that Hong Kong will prosper in a new future.

China's will to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests is rock solid, and Hong Kong's ability to resist foreign interference is getting stronger and stronger. A small number of politicians in Western countries want to use the "democratic script" and "human rights script" of deceitful and hypocritical and clumsy to meddle in Hong Kong affairs and cajole the Hong Kong people. It is certain that the momentum of Hong Kong's great development is irreversible, and Hong Kong, with long-term peace and stability, will certainly be able to make due contributions to the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

People's Daily (05/10/2021)