On July 15, 2020, Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang summoned the United States (US) Ambassador to China Terry Branstad to lodge stern representations over the so-called "Hong Kong Autonomy Act" and related executive order signed by US President Donald Trump. Zheng Zeguang pointed out, the Act and executive order of the US side maliciously denigrate the national security legislation for Hong Kong, remove relevant special treatment for Hong Kong, and threaten to impose sanctions on Chinese entities and individuals. This is a gross interference in China's internal affairs and a grave violation of international law and basic norms governing international relations. The Chinese side firmly opposes and strongly condemns this. To safeguard its legitimate interests, the Chinese side will make necessary response to the wrong actions of the US side, including imposing sanctions on relevant US entities and individuals.

Zheng Zeguang stressed, Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. China's National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, in accordance with the Chinese Constitution, the Hong Kong Basic Law and relevant decisions of the NPC, enacts the national security legislation for Hong Kong, which is entirely China's internal affair, and no foreign country has the right to make irresponsible remarks or interfere in the matter. The law targets the behavior and activities of secession, subverting the state power, committing terrorist activities, and collusion with overseas forces to harm national security. It is to protect the rights and freedom enjoyed by the Hong Kong residents in accordance with the law. The enactment and enforcement of the law is conducive to safeguarding China's sovereignty, security and development interests, maintaining Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability, and ensuring the stable and long-term run of "one country, two systems". It is firmly supported by all Chinese people, including Hong Kong compatriots, and also widely welcomed by the international community.

Zheng Zeguang noted, the so-called "Hong Kong Autonomy Act" and related executive order concocted by the US side are not concerned with the "democracy" and "freedom" of the residents in Hong Kong, but are trying to obstruct and contain China's development. Such attempts will never succeed. The Chinese side urges the US side to correct its mistakes, refrain from implementing the so-called "Hong Kong Autonomy Act" and executive order, and stop interfering in China's internal affairs in any way.

Zheng Zeguang pointed out, the US side has recently taken unscrupulous acts that interfered with China's internal affairs and harmed China's interests on issues involving Xinjiang, Tibet, and the South China Sea, and further exposed the essence of naked hegemonism. In response to this, the Chinese side has and will continue to take countermeasures to firmly safeguard its core interests. I want to remind the US side that the Chinese side will resolutely counterattack any bullying and injustice imposed on the Chinese side by the US side, and its attempt to block China's development is doomed to failure. We urge the US side to immediately change its course, stop its slanders and provocations against the Chinese side and not to go further down the wrong path.