Govt dismisses ‘unfounded’ Five Eye comments on polls

The government has dismissed as fabricated and unfounded comments on the Legislative Council elections made by the nations in the Five Eyes intelligence sharing group, saying they are trying to smear the polls.

The US secretary of state and foreign ministers from the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand expressed “grave concern” over what they called “the erosion of democratic elements” in the Hong Kong SAR.

They said Beijing’s changes to Hong Kong’s political system had “eliminated any meaningful political opposition” in the Legislative Council.

“We strongly oppose to the five countries’ attempt to smear against the 2021 Legco general election of Hong Kong by making up allegations contrary to facts and without basis,” the SAR government said in a statement on Tuesday.

It said that changes to the electoral system ensure patriots are administering Hong Kong, that the lawmakers returned are broadly representative, and that the polls have ensured balanced participation.

The government said that, with the support of the central government and the safeguards of the National Security Law and the electoral system, Hong Kong’s democratic development will progress in a lawful and orderly manner in accordance with the Basic Law.

“Any external or internal destructive force and political conspiracy trying to interfere with the HKSAR’s democratic development in accordance with the Basic Law will not succeed,” it stressed.