A spokesman for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (April 21) expresses strong opposition to a United States (US) social media company recently terminating the election-related social media account set up by the candidate for the sixth-term Chief Executive Election for the purpose of complying with the US "sanctions" laws.

     The spokesman said, "The HKSAR Government and all sectors of society strongly opposed and expressed extreme outrage at any form of interference in the internal affairs of Hong Kong by foreign forces, which includes affecting the smooth holding of the sixth-term Chief Executive Election through undermining the freedoms of speech and of the information dissemination, as well as the fairness and impartiality of the Internet.
 
     "The so-called 'sanctions' imposed by the US are blatant interference in the internal affairs of the People's Republic of China, in the pretext of human rights, democracy and autonomy. The political structure of the HKSAR is a matter within the purview of the Central Authorities. The international community should fully acknowledge this fact and stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs which are internal affairs of China.
 
     "Central Government's improvement to the HKSAR's electoral system has provided a robust safeguard for fully implementing the principle of 'patriots administering Hong Kong'. The Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections and the Legislative Council General Election were conducted last year on September 19 and December 19 respectively. The HKSAR Government will, as in the past, make every effort to ensure the sixth-term HKSAR Chief Executive Election will be conducted successfully on May 8 in a fair, just and open manner."

Ends/Thursday, April 21, 2022
Issued at HKT 19:52

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