A view of Hong Kong File Photo: VCG

A spokesperson from the Commissioner's Office of China's Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Tuesday expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to certain US politicians' attempts to undermine the reputation of Hong Kong as an international financial hub and attacking the practice of "one country, two systems" in the city.

Lawmakers in the US House of Representatives have asked US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to rethink ties with Hong Kong's banking sector, alleging the city has become a top location for money laundering and evasion of sanctions, according to a Reuters report on Monday.

The spokesperson said that China has always firmly opposed unilateral sanctions and "long-arm jurisdiction" that lack international legal basis or UN Security Council authorization. "No matter how the US tries to dress up its unilateral sanctions, it cannot hide the fact that they trample on international principles and violate the international rule of law," the spokesperson said, according to a statement on the website of the Commissioner's Office. 

The spokesperson said the continuous hype by certain US politicians over Hong Kong "sanctions evasion" claim is political manipulation, which exposed the US' hegemonic tendency to put its domestic law above the international law, which China will never accept.

The spokesperson said that Hong Kong is governed under the rule of law, and is widely recognized for its strong legal framework. Its position as an international financial center remains solid. The recent Global Financial Leaders' Investment Summit and the International Financial Forum Annual Meeting 2024, both held in Hong Kong, attracted financial leaders and officials from around the world, underscoring the international community's confidence in Hong Kong's status as an international financial hub as well as its business environment and development prospects.

The spokesperson stressed China's firm commitment to the "one country, two systems" principle and safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development. China, including its HKSAR, has an unquestionable right under the UN Charter and international law to engage in normal exchanges and cooperation with other countries. 

"We urge certain politicians to face the reality of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, recognize the unstoppable momentum of its progress, and stop smearing and pressuring the city or interfering in its affairs and China's internal affairs," the spokesperson said.

The HKSAR Government also expressed strong disapproval and firm rejection on Tuesday evening of such actions by US politicians.

"The HKSAR Government strongly disapproves of and firmly rejects malicious slander of Hong Kong's reputation as an international financial center in the letter. The allegations in the letter have no factual basis and are grossly unfounded. The letter is a crude and reprehensible attempt to spread lies and misinformation about Hong Kong for personal political gain," the spokesman for the government stated.

The spokesperson noted that maintaining the integrity and robustness of our financial systems is high on the HKSAR Government's agenda. Our banks and other financial institutions adhere to international standards and best practices, including those on anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism.

The US has substantial economic interest in Hong Kong. Over the past decade, it registered a trade surplus of about $270 billion with Hong Kong. Over 1,200 US companies operate in the city. If the US politicians insist on their acts, it will ultimately undermine the mutually beneficial relations between Hong Kong and the US, harming the interests of the US and its companies, according to the spokesperson.

Global Times