On 20 December, the Foreign Minister of Canada released statements on the seventh-term Legislative Council (LegCo) election of the Hong Kong SAR with foreign ministers of the Five Eyes countries and the G7 countries respectively, which talked utter nonsense about the election, flagrantly support anti-China and destabilizing forces and grossly interferes in China’s internal affairs. This once again fully exposed the vicious intent and ugly face of these countries to undermine China's development by messing up Hong Kong. The Chinese side expresses its firm opposition.

Since Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, the Central Government of China has firmly implemented the principle of One Country, Two Systems and the Basic Law, and supported the HKSAR in developing democracy in an orderly manner in accordance with law. Hong Kong residents enjoy unprecedented democratic rights. On 19 December, the election for the seventh-term LegCo of the HKSAR was held in a smooth and orderly fashion in accordance with law. This LegCo election is fair, equitable, open, secure and clean, and the democratic rights of voters are fully respected and protected, demonstrating the broad representation, political inclusiveness, balanced participation and fair competition of the new electoral system of the HKSAR. Although being affected by the epidemic, more than 1.35 million voters cast their ballots. Voters in Hong Kong have fought back against the smears and slanders targeting the legitimacy of the new electoral system with their actions.

As is clearly stated in the White Paper “Hong Kong Democratic Progress Under the Framework of One Country, Two Systems” issued by the State Council Information Office recently that the Chinese government designed, created, safeguarded and advanced Hong Kong’s system of democracy. In fact, neither Canada nor a small group of western countries has ever really cared about democracy and freedom in Hong Kong. Instead of caring about the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people, what they are really up to is disrupting Hong Kong’s rule of law, destabilizing the SAR and stirring up trouble there. The legal basis for the Chinese government’s administration of Hong Kong is China’s Constitution and the Basic Law, not the Sino-British Joint Declaration. After the return of Hong Kong, all the provisions concerning the British side in the Joint Declaration have been fulfilled. The UK has no sovereignty, no jurisdiction and no right of supervision over Hong Kong.

I would like to stress that Hong Kong is part of China. How to develop democracy in the SAR is purely China’s domestic affair. Whether Hong Kong’s democratic system is good or not should be judged by the Chinese people, including Hong Kong compatriots. The Central Government is committed to fully and faithfully implementing the principle of One Country, Two Systems and to supporting Hong Kong in developing a democratic system that conforms to its constitutional status and realities on the ground. Attempts to interfere in China’s domestic affairs and mess up Hong Kong are all doomed to failure. The Chinese side urges the Canadian side to grasp the situation, stop engaging in activities of messing up Hong Kong to contain China and stop running counter to the historical trend of the times, or their tricks will only backfire.