Rumors about national security law for HK debunked (6)

The legislation on safeguarding national security in Hong Kong violates China's commitments and obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration.

chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2020-07-06 08:55

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Hong Kong residents raise a toast during a rally to celebrate the 23rd anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the approval of the national security law for the SAR on June 30, 2020. ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP

Some people from the US and other Western countries have recently made groundless accusations against and disseminated many fallacies about the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Here is one of the rumors they spread, and the fact.

Rumor: The legislation on safeguarding national security in Hong Kong violates China's commitments and obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration.

Fact:

- The legal basis for the Chinese government to govern Hong Kong is the Chinese Constitution and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong SAR. The Sino-British Joint Declaration is not relevant in this regard. As China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997, all provisions concerning the UK under the Joint Declaration had been fulfilled. The UK has no sovereignty, jurisdiction or "right of supervision" over Hong Kong after its return.

- The basic policies regarding Hong Kong stated by China in the Joint Declaration are not commitments to the UK, but China's declaration of its policies, which have since been fully embodied in the Basic Law enacted by the National People's Congress (NPC). These policies have not changed; they will continue to be upheld by China.