US Congress resolution on HK strongly opposed

China Tuesday strongly objected to a US Congress resolution on so-called "support for freedom in Hong Kong," saying it interfered in China's domestic affairs.

The Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress, the Foreign Ministry and its Commissioner's Office in Hong Kong urged the US Congress to immediately cease its interference in China's internal affairs.

On Monday the US House of Representatives passed a resolution on "support for freedom in Hong Kong," blaming China for blocking Hong Kong's general election of its chief executive and legislative council members, said an unnamed high-ranking official with the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC).

"We always advocate and support Hong Kong in the development of its democratic system in accordance with local conditions," the official said.

Hong Kong had no democracy when governed by the British for more than 150 years, the official said, noting that after China regained sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997, the principles of "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong," "a high degree of autonomy" and the Hong Kong Basic Law have been strictly followed.

A Hong Kong citizen was elected chief executive by an election committee extensively representing the Hong Kong people, the official said, adding that more Legislative Council members have been directly elected.

"Hong Kong citizens enjoy unprecedented democratic rights, which is a generally recognized fact," the official said.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is a regional administrative district of the People's Republic of China, thus the regional political system is managed by the central government.

Hong Kong's political system is set by the Hong Kong Basic Law passed by the NPC, China's supreme power organ. According to China's Constitution and Hong Kong Basic Law, the NPC has the right to amend the Basic Law and the NPC Standing Committee has the right to interpret the Basic Law, the official said.

In April 2004 the NPC Standing Committee made interpretations on the regulations in the Basic Law annexes, making decisions on the methods for chief executive selection in 2007 and Legislative Council in 2008, the official said, pointing out that this accorded with legal functions and procedures.

The US House of Representatives resolution blames the NPC Standing Committee as the final arbitrator of Hong Kong's democratic reform, which wantonly and groundlessly distorts China's Constitution and Hong Kong Basic Law, the official said.

History and facts prove that democratic development must be gradual and in accordance with social and economic development, the official said. Only this way can benefit Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability, which will further provide favorable conditions for boosting Hong Kong's democratic process.

The general election of both HKSAR chief executive and Legislative Council is the final goal set by the Basic Law, but not a goal that should be achieved in 2007 and 2008, the official said.

This final goal has not changed, but a process is needed before its fulfillment, the official said, adding that the NPC Standing Committee's decision was a new starting point for promoting Hong Kong's democratic development.

"We do not accept the US Congress resolution, which intervenes in China's domestic affairs. Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong and Hong Kong's affairs are China's internal affairs," the official said.

Hong Kong's prosperity and stability not only serve the interests of all Chinese including Hong Kong compatriots, but also serve the interests of the United States, said the official, who urged the US Congress not to harm Sino-US relations and Hong Kong's prosperity and stability any more.

"The US House of Representatives again meddled in Hong Kong's affairs and intervened in China's domestic affairs, which not only harms Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability and Sino-US relations, but also harms the interests of the United States," said a statement issued by the foreign ministry.

During a meeting with visiting US Assistant Secretary James Kelly, Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Zhou Wenzhong also expressed strong dissatisfaction at and firm opposition to the resolution.

Kelly said the US side attaches importance to US-China relations and China's positions on Hong Kong and Taiwan, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry source.

Kelly reiterated that there is no change to the US side's one-China policy and its support for the Chinese Government's implementation of "one country, two systems" and the Basic Law in Hong Kong.

The Commissioner's Office of the ministry said that the resolution hurt the feelings of the Chinese people.

Hong Kong has just concluded an election for the Legislative Council, with 60 legislators elected in the most democratic way in its history, said the office, adding the election has set a "milestone" in its history of democracy.

Facts prove once again that since 1997, when Hong Kong returned to the motherland, its residents have been enjoying unprecedented democratic rights and freedoms, said the office.

It is also a fact that Hong Kong has been progressing under the principle of "one country, two systems" and the Basic Law, it added.

The central government and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government have also been making efforts to guarantee the well-being of Hong Kong residents and to firmly safeguard the long-term stability and prosperity of Hong Kong, said the office.

Source: By People's Daily Online