The central government congratulated the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) disciplined services delegation on their performance at this year's World Police and Fire Games and condemned provocations against participants from the Hong Kong Police Force.

The HKSAR disciplined services delegation, composed mainly of members from the Hong Kong Police Force, won 97 gold medals, 90 silver medals and 88 bronze medals during the games, which was held from July 28 to August 6.

The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR on Tuesday hailed the outstanding achievements made by the HKSAR disciplined services delegation, underlining Hong Kong police officers' 89 gold medals, which is their best result in history.

The liaison office condemned some anti-China rioters who fled overseas, certain U.S. and Western politicians, and some anti-China organizations making malicious provocations and attacks during the games in an attempt to demean the image of the Hong Kong Police Force and smear the national security law in Hong Kong.

On the same day, a spokesperson for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council also denounced the anti-China rioters who attempted to obstruct the HKSAR disciplined services' activities during the games and stir up political hype.

After experiencing the disturbance over proposed legislative amendments in Hong Kong and the city's transition from chaos to order, the Hong Kong community and the international community have recognized who are the defenders and who are the saboteurs of Hong Kong's prosperity and stability and the practice of "One Country, Two Systems," said the spokesperson.

The spokesperson stressed that the central government fully trusts the HKSAR disciplined services, and has always firmly supported them in performing their duties in accordance with the law to safeguard national security and stability of Hong Kong.

The Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR noted that nuisance to the HKSAR disciplined services delegation during the games, clamoring for so-called security "worries," and attempting to obstruct the legitimate activities of the HKSAR disciplined services delegation are all futile.

During a welcome ceremony held by the HKSAR government for the disciplined services delegation to congratulate them on their triumphant return at Hong Kong International Airport, Chan Kwok-ki, chief secretary for administration of the HKSAR government, said that some people or organizations with ulterior motives smeared the HKSAR athletes.

He emphasized that the HKSAR government is committed to its duties and will continue to join various sectors of society to protect the safety of Hong Kong and the country, resolutely adopting the principle of "laws being observed and strictly enforced."

(With input from Xinhua)

(Cover: Chan Kwok-ki, chief secretary for administration of the HKSAR government, addresses the HKSAR disciplined delegation at a welcome ceremony for their triumphant return at Hong Kong International Airport, in Hong Kong, south China, August 8, 2023. /HKSAR government)