WASHINGTON: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi responded on Wednesday to comments by the United States and others on pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, saying foreign countries should not meddle in China’s domestic affairs.
Wang, the most senior Chinese official to speak publicly about the protests, said Beijing had “very formally and clearly stated its position: Hong Kong affairs are China’s internal affairs. All countries should respect China’s sovereignty.”
He was speaking at the US State Department before talks with Secretary of State John Kerry, who repeated US calls for Chinese authorities to show restraint toward the mass protests challenging the communist government.
Wang said no country, including the United States, would tolerate “illegal acts that violate public order.” He added: “We believe that the Hong Kong special administrative region’s government has the capability to properly handle the current situation in accordance with the law.”
Kerry said: “We have high hopes that Hong Kong authorities will exercise restraint and respect protesters’ right to express their views.”
The protesters, mostly students, are demanding full democracy and have called on Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying to step down from the top office of the former British colony that reverted to Chinese rule in 1997.
A month ago, Beijing ruled that it would vet candidates wishing to run for Hong Kong’s leadership in 2017. Protesters are demanding that Beijing refrain from vetting candidates.
On Tuesday, US officials said there should be greater autonomy for the people of Hong Kong in selecting candidates for chief executive.
Kerry did not explicitly make that point on Wednesday in his public remarks, but said: “We believe an open society with the highest possible degree of autonomy, governed by the rule of law, is essential for Hong Kong’s stability and prosperity.”
Reuters
