On June 8, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Lithuanian Seimas adopted a statement which maliciously slanders the electoral system of the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), defames Hong Kong's democracy, freedom, and the rule of law, grossly interferes in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs under the guise of human rights and freedom, in defiance of the international law and basic norms governing international relations. China strongly condemns and firmly opposes this.

Hong Kong today has moved from chaos to stability and is marking on a new journey of prosperity and sound governance. The just-concluded election of the Sixth-Term Chief Executive of the HKSAR is another successful implementation of the new electoral system in the HKSAR. The election result fully reflects the high recognition and support Mr. John Lee Ka-chiu gained in HK society. More than 1400 representatives, elected by various sectors, cast their votes in the election, and they widely represent different industries and interest groups. The election is a whole-process democratic practice that fits Hong Kong's reality and features Hong Kong characteristics. Facts have proved that HKSAR's new electoral system is a good one that is in line with the "one country, two systems" principle and is suited to Hong Kong's realities. As Hong Kong marks the 25th anniversary this year of its return to the motherland, the practice of “one country, two systems” enters a new phase. We are confident that the new SAR government will lead Hong Kong to further success at a new starting point.

Just as the new electoral system is taking root and democracy is improving in Hong Kong, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Lithuanian Seimas criticize, attack and smear the process and result of the HKSAR election. Besides, the Lithuanian side still tried to use the political incident that happened 3 decades ago for ideological infiltration and peaceful evolution against China. This move is doomed to be a complete failure given the current historical trend and the development of the Chinese nation. Lithuania, in defiance of its own deplorable human rights records such as discrimination against ethnic minorities, violation of the legitimate rights and interests of Lithuanian women and children, deliberate torture and abuse of prisoners, violence and maltreatment against refugees and participation in the overseas network of “black sites” launched by the US CIA, takes itself as a “lecturer” on democracy and makes irresponsible remarks on the democratic election in the HKSAR and Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy, human rights and freedom, in blatant violation of  the international law and basic norms governing international relations. By doing so, Lithuania was only revealing its hypocrisy and double standards. 

The rule of law is the cornerstone of Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, and Hong Kong society must abide by the rule of law. Joshua Wong, Jimmy Lai, Chow Hang-tung etc. are suspects of colluding with foreign countries or overseas forces to endanger China's national security. Hong Kong police's law enforcement actions, based on the Law of the PRC on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR, are acts of justice, which brook no external interference. However, some Lithuania politicians made irresponsible remarks on this and embellish the suspects' illegal assemblies as democratic actions to exercise freedom of speech and assembly. Lithuania, in total disregard of the fact that illegal assemblies and processions had turned into extreme violence, overtly exculpated the suspects for law-breaking acts and tried to provide political asylum for those criminals. This is a wanton trampling of human rights and the rule of law in Hong Kong, a blatant interference in the judicial independence and the high degree of autonomy of HKSAR, and a gross interference in China's internal affairs and sovereignty.

Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong. The kind of electoral system and the choice of democratic path is purely China's internal affair that allows no foreign interference. The Chinese government is firmly committed to fully and faithfully implementing the principle of One Country, Two Systems and developing sound democracy that best suits Hong Kong's reality. No external forces can stop the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation or change the bright prospects of Hong Kong's prosperity and development. China urges Lithuania to recognize the situation, correct its position, abide by international law and basic norms governing international relations, respect China's national sovereignty, stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs in any form, and stop adding new difficulties and obstacles to China-Lithuania bilateral relations.