China firmly opposes irresponsible comments by any foreign country which interfere in Hong Kong affairs, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue in Beijing on July 2.

Zhang said this when asked to comment on the remarks of deputy spokesman of the US State Department Adam Ereli that the steps and scope of Hong Kong's democratization should be decided by the Hong Kong people and government.

Zhang said that Hong Kong affairs are China's internal affairs. Since Hong Kong's return to China, the principles of "one country, two systems", "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy have been comprehensively implemented and Hong Kong people's rights

and freedom have been fully safeguarded, she said.

China has always held that Hong Kong develops a democratic system which conforms to its own conditions, she said. Only when the political institutions of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region develop in a gradual and orderly manner according to the Basic Law, can they meet the

long-term interests of Hong Kong people from all walks of life, and be conducive to the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong society, Zhang said.

Source: Xinhua