*UNITED NATIONS: *
Pakistan, speaking for 55 countries at a United Nations panel, has saidthat Hong Kong affairs are China’s internal matters, and underscored theimportance of non-interference in the domestic affairs of sovereign states– a basic international norm.
Ambassador Munir Akram, the Pakistani permanent representative to the UN,was responding to a statement made by Germany, on behalf of a group ofmainly western countries, that expressed concern at the impact of China’snew national security law on human rights in Hong Kong.
“The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is an inalienable part ofChina and Hong Kong affairs are China’s internal affairs, that brook nointerference by foreign forces,” the Pakistani envoy told the GeneralAssembly’s Third Committee, which deals with social, humanitarian andcultural matters, on Tuesday.
In his remarks, Ambassador Akram named the 55 countries which authorisedhim to speak on their behalf, and said they supported China’s “one countrytwo systems” policy and stressed that legislative power on nationalsecurity in any country rests with the state.
“The enactment of the law of the People’s Republic of China on safeguardingnational security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is alegitimate measure that ensures one country, two system goes steady andenduring, and that Hong Kong enjoys long term prosperity and stability,” hesaid.
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“The legitimate rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents can be betterexercised in a safe environment.”
China’s UN Ambassador Zhang Jun strongly refuted the jarring rhetoricexpressed by his German counterpart, Christoph Heusgen, and those “bent onprovoking antagonism”.
He categorically rejected the disinformation that some countries werespreading to discredit China and attempting to meddle in its internalaffairs, using the excuse of human rights.
