Demonstrations at Hong Kong's legislature "serious illegal act": China's Foreign Ministry
  • 5 years ago
Tension is still bristling in Hong Kong after a chaotic week of angry protests.
With demonstrators continuing to express their anger over a controversial extradition bill,... the Chinese government has condemned the protests as "serious illegal acts".
This as Britain, which returned the territory to China in the late 1990s, warned there would "serious consequences" if Beijing breaches their historic pact protecting freedom in Hong Kong.
Lee Seung-jae reports.
Beijing strongly backed Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam and her administration on Tuesday,... saying the occupation and vandalizing of Hong Kong's legislature by pro-democracy protestors this week were "serious illegal acts" that endangered the social order.
Speaking on Tuesday,... China's Foreign Ministry expressed its strong support for the Hong Kong government and its police force.

"The violent storming of the legislative council building in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (S.A.R.) and the indiscriminate damage to the legislative council's facilities is a serious illegal act that trampled on the rule of law and damaged public order. We strongly condemn this. The Chinese central government resolutely supports Hong Kong."

The spokesperson also reiterated Beijing's rejection of any foreign nation commenting on or intervening,... adding such matters are strictly China's domestic affairs.

"We express resolute opposition to the relevant countries who crudely interfere in Hong Kong matters and China's internal affairs. We once again admonish the relevant countries to act cautiously, not to interfere in Hong Kong's internal matters in any way, not to support illegal and violent actors in any form, not to issue any incorrect signals and not do make any incorrect moves."

Britain's Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt condemned the violence on both sides.
However, he stressed China needs to stick to the agreements it made when it took back Hong Kong in 1997.
Those include allowing Hong Kong residents freedoms not enjoyed in mainland China, including the freedom to protest.

"The UK signed an internationally binding legal agreement in 1984 that enshrines the 'one country, two systems rule', enshrines the basic freedoms of the people of Hong Kong and we stand four square behind that agreement, four square behind the people of Hong Kong. And there will be serious consequences if that internationally binding legal agreement were not to be honored."

Marking the 22nd anniversary of Hong Kong's handover from Britain to China,... protestors stormed Hong Kong's legislative council building on Monday,... vandalizing walls and hanging the old British colonial flag,... before they were dispersed by riot police.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
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