China-US Illustration: Liu Rui/GT

A spokesperson of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee strongly condemned US sanctions on 14 Chinese senior officials, saying the US using Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as an excuse to recklessly interfere in China's domestic affairs is "unreasonable" and "vicious." 

The spokesperson pointed out that Hong Kong's electoral system is an important part of the city's political system, and it is the central government's authority of what electoral system to run in Hong Kong. 

In recent years, especially in 2019 during the riots, Hong Kong's legal and social order has been severely damaged, and the "one country, two systems" principle was seriously challenged, the spokesperson pointed out. The National People Congress, as China's top legislature, which has the authority empowered by the Constitution, has the right and obligation to make decisions on and improve Hong Kong's electoral system, the spokesperson said.

The response came after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Wednesday new sanctions on officials from the Chinese mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region over the Hong Kong electoral reform.

Blinken said the US identified "24 officials, whose actions have reduced Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy, including 14 vice chairs of the NPC Standing Committee and officials in the Hong Kong Police Force's National Security Division, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, and the Office for Safeguarding National Security. Foreign financial institutions that knowingly conduct significant transactions with the individuals listed in today's report are now subject to sanctions."

The Chinese officials sanctioned include Wang Chen, vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, the country's top legislature, and Tam Yiu-chung, a member of the NPC Standing Committee from Hong Kong.

The spokesperson said that this reform is to eliminate existing risks of Hong Kong's current mechanism, and provide guarantees for "one country, two systems," as well as implementing "patriots governing Hong Kong."

Hong Kong's affairs are China's domestic affairs and allow no foreign interference, said the spokesperson, noting that the NPC will continue to carry out its duty and safeguard national sovereignty, security and interests, as well as to provide legal guarantees for cracking down on "Hong Kong secessionism," making sure "patriots governing Hong Kong" and long-term stability and prosperity of the city.

Global Times