China warns U.S. off Hong Kong
 |
A proposed anti-subversion law sparked mass protests in Hong Kong.
Story Tools
YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS
|
Follow the news that matters to you. Create your own alert to be notified on topics you're interested in.
Or, visit Popular Alerts for suggestions.
|
|
BEIJING, China (Reuters) -- China has again warned the United States against interfering in Hong Kong on the eve of a trip to Washington by one of the territory's key democrats and opposition politicians.
"China has enough wisdom to deal with the Hong Kong question according to the law and does not need external forces to make irresponsible remarks," the foreign ministry said in a statement on its Web site www.fmprc.gov.cn.
"We firmly oppose any attempts to interfere in China's internal affairs," it said before Friday's annual session of parliament in which Hong Kong is likely to be high on the agenda.
Premier Wen Jiabao will deliver a speech opening the session which will be closely watched for any word on Hong Kong.
Veteran Hong Kong democracy activist Martin Lee is due to speak to a U.S. Senate hearing in Washington on Thursday on the subject of democracy in Hong Kong, a former British colony which was given wide autonomy on its handover to China in 1997.
China, worried about instability in the free-wheeling territory, has tried to silence demands for expanded democracy which have grown louder since a massive protest in Hong Kong in July.
Beijing fears demands for more voting rights in Hong Kong could spread to the mainland or loosen its grip on the city of nearly seven million people.
China has accused Lee, due to return to Hong Kong at the weekend, and other pro-democracy politicians of being unpatriotic by going overseas to talk about Hong Kong's democratic aspirations.
It warned the United States on Tuesday against meddling in its affairs in Hong Kong.
Lee has said he would tell U.S. senators that the people of Hong Kong want full popular elections from 2007, but that he would not ask them for help.
China has pledged Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy under a "one country, two systems" formula.
Copyright 2004
Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
