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China flays UK for comments on HK
Hong Kong, July 26: China`s foreign ministry on Friday attacked Britain for its `reckless comments` about Hong Kong taking a tougher line on protesters.
Hong Kong, July 26: China's foreign ministry on Friday attacked Britain for its "reckless comments" about Hong Kong taking a tougher line on protesters.
"Hong Kong has already returned to China," the foreign ministry said in a statement. "Hong Kong's affairs are purely the internal affairs of China. No other countries have any right to make irresponsible remarks or give reckless comments." Hong Kong was returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 after 156 years under British rule.
The British foreign ministry said earlier in the week that Hong Kong has done mostly well in the five years since it was returned to China under a system dubbed "one country, two systems" that guarantees local autonomy and freedoms unheard of in mainland China.
But Britain noted concerns that Hong Kong was becoming less tolerant of demonstrations, and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said "freedom of assembly and speech must not be compromised." Hong Kong recently brought criminal charges against three pro-democracy campaigners for staging unauthorised protests. The territory stirred more controversy when it refused to permit a visit by a US citizen, the former Chinese labour camp inmate Harry Wu, who now is an activist. Meanwhile, 16 followers of the Falun Gong meditation sect are being tried for allegedly creating a public obstruction when they peacefully protested outside the Chinese government liaison office here. Falun Gong calls it a trumped-up case to stifle its message. Local rights activists and opposition politicians say Hong Kong's freedoms are crumbling.
But the Chinese foreign ministry said Hong Kong's new government system had been successfully implemented and Beijing was upholding the pledge to keep its hands off local matters.
"Hong Kong's government has acted according to the rule of law and basic rights and freedom have been fully safeguarded," the Chinese statement said. "This is an inarguable fact."
Although Hong Kong is supposed to be governed with a great deal of autonomy, Beijing handles defense and foreign affairs. Bureau Report
"Hong Kong has already returned to China," the foreign ministry said in a statement. "Hong Kong's affairs are purely the internal affairs of China. No other countries have any right to make irresponsible remarks or give reckless comments." Hong Kong was returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 after 156 years under British rule.
The British foreign ministry said earlier in the week that Hong Kong has done mostly well in the five years since it was returned to China under a system dubbed "one country, two systems" that guarantees local autonomy and freedoms unheard of in mainland China.
But Britain noted concerns that Hong Kong was becoming less tolerant of demonstrations, and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said "freedom of assembly and speech must not be compromised." Hong Kong recently brought criminal charges against three pro-democracy campaigners for staging unauthorised protests. The territory stirred more controversy when it refused to permit a visit by a US citizen, the former Chinese labour camp inmate Harry Wu, who now is an activist. Meanwhile, 16 followers of the Falun Gong meditation sect are being tried for allegedly creating a public obstruction when they peacefully protested outside the Chinese government liaison office here. Falun Gong calls it a trumped-up case to stifle its message. Local rights activists and opposition politicians say Hong Kong's freedoms are crumbling.
But the Chinese foreign ministry said Hong Kong's new government system had been successfully implemented and Beijing was upholding the pledge to keep its hands off local matters.
"Hong Kong's government has acted according to the rule of law and basic rights and freedom have been fully safeguarded," the Chinese statement said. "This is an inarguable fact."
Although Hong Kong is supposed to be governed with a great deal of autonomy, Beijing handles defense and foreign affairs. Bureau Report