The government on Saturday said it firmly rejected remarks by members of the European Parliament who criticised the SAR’s national security law and called for sanctions against EU officials.

In a statement, the administration said it strongly disapproved of the actions of the EU lawmakers in writing to the president of the European Commission to “wantonly slander and smear” the security legislation.

A spokesman said the lawmakers’ remarks were made out of “despicable political motives upon the third anniversary of the implementation of the NSL, to attack the HKSAR in its dutiful, faithful and lawful implementation of the NSL”.

“Their political grandstanding rife with ill intentions have been seen through,” the spokesman continued. “Their despicable plots are doomed to fail.”

The statement said the SAR administration despised “so-called 'sanctions' and shall never be intimated. It will continue to resolutely discharge the responsibility of safeguarding national security. It strongly urges the concerned politicians of the European Parliament to immediately stop acting against the international law and basic norms of international relations and interfering in Hong Kong matters, which are purely China's internal affairs."

The spokesman said any attempt to interfere with the judicial system in Hong Kong was “reprehensible”, adding: “Making remarks with the intent to interfere with or obstruct the course of justice, or engaging in conduct with the same intent, is very likely to constitute the offence of criminal contempt of court or the offence of perverting the course of justice.”