Ministry calls for U.S. to stop interference in HK

Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin speaks at a news conference in Beijing, on Nov 2, 2020. (Photo/fmprc.gov.cn)

China urged the United States on Tuesday to immediately stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs and withdraw its sanctions on four more Chinese officials for their role in implementing the National Security Law for Hong Kong.

"The U.S. should not go further down the wrong path," Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a regular news briefing.

Wang said that China condemns and opposes the sanctions, which are a serious violation of international laws and blatant interference in China's internal affairs.

According to the U.S. State Department, the four individuals will be barred from traveling to the U.S. and their assets within the jurisdiction of the U.S. or in the possession or control of U.S. entities will be blocked.

The sanctions came three months after the U.S. Treasury Department slapped sanctions on 11 officials of the Chinese central government and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government for similar reasons.

China is a law-based country and Hong Kong is law-based society, Wang said, adding that the law must be observed and those who violate the law must be held accountable.

The National Security Law for Hong Kong targets a small number of criminals who jeopardize national security, and it protects law-abiding Hong Kong residents, who represent the vast majority, he said.

The central government supports HKSAR government authorities and personnel in fulfilling their duties in accordance with law, he added.

Hong Kong is part of China and its affairs are purely China's domestic affairs and admit no external interference, Wang said.