We sternly ask relevant members of the United States Congress to stop supporting and shielding violent criminals, stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs, spokesperson for the National People's Congress Standing Committee's Legislative Affairs Commission said on Wednesday.

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently accused the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government of refusing to respect the rule of law and "One Country, Two Systems" in a public statement and called on the U.S. Congress to promote the discussion of the so-called "Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act."

Asked by a Hong Kong journalist how he views Pelosi's recent remarks, newly-appointed spokesperson Zang Tiewei said China resolutely opposed U.S. congress members' interference in China's internal affairs.

"According to the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the basic law of the HKSAR, Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong. Hong Kong's affairs are purely internal affairs of China, and no foreign country has the right to interfere," Zang said.

Since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the principles of "One Country, Two Systems" and "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" with a high degree of autonomy have been successfully implemented, and Hong Kong residents have been enjoying unprecedented rights and freedom in accordance with law, the spokesperson said, adding that this is a fact that cannot be denied by anyone who views the issue without bias.

Recently, violent protesters in Hong Kong publicly attacked and smashed the legislature, attacked the police and beat up residents. These acts are serious crimes in any country ruled by law and will be punished according to law, Zang said.

He said some U.S. Congress members made irresponsible remarks and repeatedly discredited and denigrated the just actions of the HKSAR government and the police force to safeguard the rule of law and order in accordance with the law.

Zang also asked how U.S. law enforcement would deal with it if similar acts of violence were to occur in the U.S. "This is a simple logical question, a question of whether the criteria for judging right and wrong are unified," he said.

These U.S. politicians don't really care about the well-being of Hong Kong residents. They aim to undermine the "One Country, Two Systems" and the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, Zang said.

He also warned relevant U.S. Congress members to stop pushing forward Hong Kong-related bills and do more things that are conducive to mutual trust and cooperation between China and the U.S.

In response to a question about the reform of Hong Kong's political system, Zang said that the overriding and urgent task of Hong Kong is to stop the riots and restore order.

The NPC Standing Committee decision on August 31, 2014 is a legally-effective decision adopted by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, he said, adding that the decision on issues related to the selection of the chief executive and on the method for forming the legislative council is binding.

Hong Kong affairs must be handled within the framework of the Constitution, the basic law of Hong Kong and the relevant laws and regulations, said Zang.

(Cover: National People's Congress Standing Committee's Legislative Affairs Commission holds its first news conference, August 21, 2019. /Photo via NPC website)