HK LegCo File photo:VCG

Following media reports that the US government has been mulling new sanctions on at least 12 Chinese officials for the recent disqualification of Hong Kong Legislative Council lawmakers, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying reiterated China's position of opposing US interference in China's internal affairs through Hong Kong-related issues. 

Reuters reported on Monday that the US is preparing to impose sanctions on at least a dozen Chinese officials "over their alleged role" in the disqualification of elected lawmakers in Hong Kong, and the move will target Communist Party of China (CPC) officials, including those from the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature. The measures include asset freezes and financial sanctions, the Reuters report said, citing unnamed sources. 

"The so-called sanction decision has yet to be announced," Hua said at the routine press conference on Monday, noting that if the media report turns out to be true, China's position is obvious.

China has reiterated many times its strong opposition to US interference in its internal affairs over Hong Kong-related issues, and has made solemn statements to the US on these so-called sanctions against Chinese officials while making the necessary and legitimate response, Hua noted. 

Shortly after China's top legislature NPC adopted the decision on the qualifications of LegCo members on November 11, four opposition lawmakers — Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu, Kwok Ka-ki, Dennis Kwok Wing-hang and Kenneth Leung Kai-cheong — who have notorious records for making troubles and are deemed unfit for their LegCo duties, were disqualified from the local legislature in Hong Kong with immediate effect.  

The NPC Standing Committee recently formulated a set of arrangements that included the standards for disqualifying Hong Kong LegCo lawmakers, who will be disqualified from office as soon as they are determined by law to have failed to meet the legal requirements for upholding the Basic Law and honoring the pledge of allegiance to Hong Kong. 

The spokesperson also reiterated that the NPC Standing Committee made the decision on the qualification of Hong Kong lawmakers in line with the Chinese Constitution, the Basic Law of Hong Kong, and the national security law for Hong Kong, which is an inevitable requirement of adhering to and perfecting the "one country, two systems" principle and of safeguarding the constitutional order of the HKSAR, which are absolutely reasonable and cannot be challenged. 

It is international practice for public servants to swear allegiance to the national system, she said, adding that out of the 193 UN members, 177 countries' constitutions clearly stipulate this requirement. As officials in China's HKSAR, LegCo lawmakers must sincerely support the Basic Law. 

"As far as we know, over 20 congressmen and 50 members in the US and the House of Commons in the UK have had their qualifications revoked for violating relevant parliament rules, holding dual nationality or committing treason. The US' reckless accusation against China on this matter fully exposes its double standards," Hua said, urging Western politicians to correct their wrong deeds and stop interfering in the Hong Kong affairs. 

"China will continue to take resolute countermeasures if the US insists on continuing to take further action, and China will defend its national security interests and safeguard the legitimate rights of Chinese personnel," Hua remarked.