HKSAR govt, central govt national security office in HK warn against anti-China forces exploiting relief work after deadly residential complex fire
Screenshot of the HKSAR government's website
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government strongly disapproved and rejected foreign forces, including anti-China media organizations, and anti-China and destabilizing forces for not just making unfounded and slanderous remarks regarding the HKSAR government's relief work on and investigations into the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, but also for their sowing of discord and malicious attack on the rescue operations, according to a statement issued by the HKSAR government on late Wednesday.
Those who try to use the disaster to stir up chaos in society are malicious, blotting out the efforts of the HKSAR government and of all sectors of the community in the rescue operations and support work. Those people should be condemned, the HKSAR government said in the statement.
Foreign forces and anti-China and destabilizing forces with ulterior motives, through disseminating fake news and false messages on the Internet, and even distributing seditious pamphlets and so on, intended to maliciously smear the rescue work, instigate social division and conflict to undermine the society's unity in taking forward the support and relief work, according to the statement.
It even causes “secondary damage” to the affected residents. If these acts are left unchecked, not only would they negatively impact on the relief work after the fire, they would even undermine the stability of society and endanger national security. We must not let our guard down against such risks, the HKSAR government stressed.
It also noted that it will not tolerate any malicious smearing targeting the HKSAR government and rescue personnel without regard to the ordeal the society is facing, in particular criminal acts that are intended to incite hatred against the government, confounding right and wrong.
Indeed, what is most needed now is for all sectors of Hong Kong to stand united as one in supporting the affected residents to move beyond their grief as soon as possible and to help them continue to live better lives, the HKSAR government said.
We will not condone any person who attempts to sabotage or interfere with the rescue work. Wherever they are, the HKSAR government will make every effort in pursuing them in accordance with the law and make sure that justice is done, it added.
A spokesperson from the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR also said on Wednesday that a small number of external hostile forces sought to exploit the tragedy, stirring up trouble and creating chaos under the pretext of “speaking up for the people.” They attempted to replicate tactics from the “anti-extradition bill unrest,” manipulating their Hong Kong “agents” to disrupt and undermine the overall rescue and recovery efforts. These malicious attempts to revive the chaos of the past were described as sinister, despicable, and outrageous.
The spokesperson warned that external hostile forces and anti-China, destabilizing elements in Hong Kong must be clearly told: attempting to create turmoil out of a disaster is intolerable and goes against the basic moral order.
The spokesperson sternly warned external hostile forces and anti-China, Hong Kong–destabilizing elements that the law is inescapable and justice will always prevail. Those who undermine China and disrupt Hong Kong will be pursued and punished, no matter how far they flee.
With the full implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, the era in which Hong Kong lacked national security defenses is gone for good. Anyone who still attempts to incite the public to revive so-called “memories of resistance,” create a new wave of turmoil, or spark another “color revolution” is delusional and destined to fail, the spokesperson from the office noted.
The Hong Kong National Security Law have already formed a comprehensive and tightly woven legal framework, ready to take action at any time. All acts and rhetoric that disrupt Hong Kong will be documented and pursued for life; all conspiracies to destabilize Hong Kong will be exposed and crushed. There will be no tolerance and no leniency, the spokesperson said, noting that anyone who violates the law—whether hiding abroad or in the island of Taiwan—will inevitably face severe legal consequences.
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