ASIA-POLITICS: BEIJING – China still committed to Hong Kong semi-autonomy
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BEIJING (AP) – China’s Foreign Minister said yesterday that his country remains committed to the “one country, two systems” governing framework in Hong Kong, despite growing concerns that Beijing is eroding the former British colony’s civil liberties.
Wang Yi told reporters following talks with his British counterpart, Jeremy Hunt, that China would continue to follow the system put in place when the city was turned over to Chinese rule in 1997.
“Hong Kong affairs are the domestic affairs of China. We do not welcome nor do we accept other countries to interfere in China’s domestic affairs,” Wang said at a joint news conference.
“But of course China will continue to support and will stay committed to one country, two systems,” Wang said.
Beijing promised to let Hong Kong maintain wide autonomy and civil liberties for 50 years, but fears are growing that China’s leaders are backtracking by oppressing the political opposition.
While the financial centre remains among the highest-rated for rule of law and government efficiency, freedom of speech is seen as coming under attack. The government has also moved against a generation of young political activists who emerged after 2014’s failed non-violent protests over Beijing’s decision to restrict elections.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping warned in a speech last year marking 20 years since Hong Kong became a semi-autonomous region of China that any activities in the city seen as threatening China’s sovereignty and stability would be “absolutely impermissible”.
Accompanying that hard line, China has angrily denounced critical reports about the implementation of one country, two systems from Britain, with which it signed a joint agreement on post-1997 arrangements, and other nations.
Hunt said that while Britain fully recognises China’s sovereignty over the territory, “We … are very much committed to the one country, two systems approach, which we think has served both Hong Kong and China extremely well.”
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