Hong Kong photo: VCG

It has been nearly 26 years since the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) returned to the motherland, but the British side has not yet woken up from the old dream of colonialism and its latest six-monthly report, which is full of ideological bias, severely interferes with HKSAR's affairs, and violates international relations and norms, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday, stressing China's strong dissatisfaction and opposition to the report.

The British government on Thursday released the so-called United Kingdom Six-monthly Report on Hong Kong: July to December 2022 (Report) to attack the "one country, two systems" principle and the National Security Law for the HKSAR.

Since the HKSAR's return to the motherland, the Chinese government has been comprehensively, accurately and unswervingly implementing the principles of "one country, two systems," and "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy. Residents in the region enjoy rights and freedom that far surpass those before 1997, said Mao.

With the successful implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong and the new election system of the SAR, Hong Kong has entered a new stage from chaos to governance, and from governance to prosperity, said Mao.

The legal system and business environment have become better, and the confidence of foreign investors in Hong Kong has continued to increase. The status of the trade and shipping center was further consolidated, said the spokesperson.

"It needs to be emphasized that the UK has no sovereignty, governance, or supervision over Hong Kong after its return to the motherland. The legal basis for the Chinese government to govern the HKSAR is the Chinese Constitution and the Basic Law of Hong Kong, not the China-British Joint Declaration," said Mao.

Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong, and Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs. Any noise that smears or bad-mouths Hong Kong will not shake the steady and long-term progress of "one country, two systems," said Mao.

The HKSAR government on Thursday also strongly disapproved and firmly rejected the slandering remarks and ill-intentioned political attacks on the HKSAR in the report. It also urged the UK to respect the international law and basic norms governing international relations and stop interfering in Hong Kong matters, which are purely China's internal affairs.

Also on Thursday, the spokesperson of the Office of the Commission of the Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR released a statement to reject the UK report.

The spokesperson said that the relevant report from the British side criticized China's just actions to safeguard national security, made irresponsible remarks on the SAR government's administration according to law, and made irresponsible comments on the fair trial of the SAR courts, which shows that it has been completely reduced to a tool for political performances and has no credibility at all.

Any noises that slander, smear, or bad-mouth Hong Kong will not shake the determination of the majority of the HKSAR residents to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development pace. We urge the British side to recognize the reality as soon as possible, adapt to the general trend, stop indulging in the old colonial dream, and immediately stop meddling and interfering in Hong Kong affairs, said the spokesperson.