22nd October 2026 – (Hong Kong) The Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has issued a firm condemnation of the latest United Kingdom report on Hong Kong, accusing it of containing unfounded allegations, distortions and disparagement of the city’s systems. The spokesperson for LegCo underscored strong support for the Hong Kong Government’s own response, which rejected the UK’s disregard for facts regarding the operation and governance of the region.
The statement reiterates that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is an inseparable part of China, and that the core meaning of the Sino-British Joint Declaration was the restoration of China’s sovereignty over Hong Kong, not the establishment of any ongoing supervisory rights for the United Kingdom. Following Hong Kong’s return to China in 1997, all obligations involving the UK under the Joint Declaration were described as fully discharged, leaving the constitutional and legal framework of the HKSAR to be based solely on China’s Constitution and the Basic Law. The United Kingdom, LegCo insisted, has no sovereignty, jurisdiction, or right of supervision over the region, nor any entitlement to interfere in the city’s affairs.
The LegCo spokesperson went on to defend the national security legislation, highlighting the Hong Kong National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance as vital to the restoration of order and the protection of social development and personal freedoms. According to the statement, the UK’s depiction of national security provisions as eroding rights and freedoms wilfully overlooks substantial improvements in public order since their implementation and disregards the context of previous social unrest. LegCo described the criticism as an attempt to interfere in Hong Kong’s positive development.
Noting the fact that the UK itself upholds a robust system of national security laws, LegCo accused Britain of displaying double standards by denouncing Hong Kong’s measures taken against acts threatening national security. The spokesperson asserted that Hong Kong’s judicial independence is guaranteed by the Basic Law, with courts making decisions based solely on law and evidence and providing full public reasoning for verdicts and sentences, free from political influence. Hong Kong’s legal system, as reflected by international rankings, is maintained at a high standard and often ahead of some Western counterparts that continue to criticise the region.
The statement also addressed ongoing court proceedings, including high-profile cases, stressing that Hong Kong operates under the rule of law and does not tolerate lawbreaking, particularly regarding national security. LegCo rejected the UK’s calls for the release of convicted persons, saying such demands undermine judicial independence and the fundamentals of the justice system. The spokesperson concluded by noting Hong Kong’s progress from stability towards prosperity, supported by sound security and robust legal mechanisms, and called upon the United Kingdom to respect these advancements, cease unwarranted commentary, and foster constructive engagement. LegCo reaffirmed its backing for the HKSAR Government’s adherence to the executive-led model, ensuring the effective continuation of the “one country, two systems” arrangement.