Photo taken on June 29, 2020 shows a billboard on the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in Central area in Hong Kong, south China.(Photo: Xinhua)

The Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions (SARs) and the Commissioner's Office of China's Foreign Ministry in the Macao SAR all expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition toward the EU's annual reports on the two SARs, urging the EU to discern facts from fallacies, respect the international law and basic norms governing international relations, and immediately stop interfering in China's internal affairs. 

The European Commission and the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy adopted on Wednesday the 26th annual report to the European Parliament and the Council on political and economic developments in the Hong Kong SAR, claiming "continuous deterioration of fundamental freedoms" in Hong Kong. 

It also adopted an annual report on the Macao SAR, asserting that there's continuously increasing focus on national security, which risks weakening fundamental freedoms in Macao, eroding the "One Country, Two Systems" principle and Macao's "usually high degree of autonomy."

The HKSAR government on Thursday night strongly disapproved of and rejected the unfounded and biased content in the EU report targeting the HKSAR's safeguarding of national security, human rights and other matters. 

The EU has also deliberately neglected the fact that the National Security Law for Hong Kong has enabled a normal way of life and economic activities for the Hong Kong community, and as well the business environment, to return to normalcy. The EU has demonstrated hypocrisy with double standards, a spokesperson of the HKSAR government said. 

The EU's report also referenced the ongoing trial on secessionist rioter Jimmy Lai and the latest verdict of dozens of defendants involved in the so-called illegal primaries, which is a clear case of conspiracy to subvert state power.

As the legal proceedings surrounding Lai's case and the illegal primaries' case on conspiracy to commit subversion are still ongoing, it is inappropriate for any person to comment on the details of the case, the spokesperson said, emphasizing that all cases are handled strictly on the basis of evidence and in accordance with the law. 

The Macao SAR government also expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the EU's report on Thursday night. 

The Macao SAR government reiterated that the amendments to the National Security Law widely drew on legislative experiences from other jurisdictions, fully considered Macao's legal traditions and social realities, and strictly adhered to relevant international human rights conventions.

And the amendments to the laws governing elections are necessary for implementing the principle of "patriots administering Macao" and safeguarding national security. They also help to improve the relevant electoral system and better ensure residents' exercise of electoral rights, a government spokesperson said. 

In the nearly 25 years since Macao's return to the motherland, the principle of "One Country, Two Systems" and the Basic Law have been successfully implemented, which is an undeniable fact. "We hope the EU will view this objectively and fairly," the spokesperson said. 

A spokesperson for the Commissioner's Office of China's Foreign Ministry in Macao also emphasized that the Chinese government is unwavering in its determination to fully and accurately implement the "One Country, Two Systems" principle and resolute in its will to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests. 

The spokesperson urged the EU to recognize the situation, position itself correctly, abandon its condescending attitude, and immediately cease unnecessary political manipulation and any form of interference in Macao affairs and China's internal affairs.

"These kinds of criticisms [from the West] are constant and merely political posturing or political theater that they themselves do not take seriously," Lau Siu-kai, a consultant from the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies who is also a senior policy advisor, told the Global Times on Friday. 

Considering that the US and the West did not speak out against Israel's actions in the Gaza war, their criticism of Hong Kong appears hypocritical and demonstrates a double standard, Lau noted.