Question: On November 3rd, a high-level official from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the UK issued a statement on the arrest by Hong Kong police of the so-called "democratically elected" and former lawmakers, calling the arrest "politically driven" and saying that "the rights and freedoms of the Hong Kong people are enshrined in the Joint Declaration" and the UK expects "all arrests and judicial processes to be conducted in a fair and transparent manner." What is the comment of the Chinese Embassy in the UK?
Embassy Spokesperson: China upholds the rule of law. Hong Kong leads the world in rule-of-law indicators. Hong Kong residents enjoy unprecedented democratic rights and extensive freedoms in accordance with laws and regulations, including the Constitution of China and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Everyone is equal in front of law. No one is above law, and any violation of law will be punished in accordance with law. The lawful execution of duty and strict enforcement of law by the Hong Kong police brook no slandering, discrediting or disruption.
Hong Kong has been returned to China. Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs. The China-UK Joint Declaration does not give the UK sovereignty, jurisdiction or right to supervision over Hong Kong SAR. The Chinese side urges the UK side to recognize the reality and stop taking the Joint Declaration as an excuse to interfere in Hong Kong affairs, which are internal affairs of China.
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