UK has no moral duty on Hong Kong: China
Iran Press TV
Wed Dec 3, 2014 11:46AM GMT
Beijing says the UK has had no moral responsibility for what happens in Hong Kong since its return to China, amid tensions between the two countries over the former British colony.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying made the remarks on Wednesday during a news briefing in the Chinese capital Beijing.
'Britain has no sovereignty over a Hong Kong that has returned to China, no authority and no right to oversight. There is no such thing as a moral responsibility,' said Hua.
'The real aim of a small minority of British people trying to use so-called moral responsibility to obscure the facts is to interfere in China's internal affairs. Such an attempt cannot succeed, and is something China certainly cannot accept,' Hua added.
The foreign minister's remarks came a day after the UK government held an emergency debate following a ban imposed by Beijing, which prevents a British parliamentary delegation from visiting the former colony to monitor its progress in the 30 years since its handover was agreed in the UK.
Chinese authorities have warned that such an inquiry would be a highly inappropriate act that would be considered as interference in China's internal affairs.
The former British colony has been the scene of protests since late September. The protesters are angry at an election law introduced by the Chinese government, which they say limits their freedom of choice.
Beijing has said it will introduce universal suffrage for Hong Kong's 2017 election; however, a committee should approve the candidates.
Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. The financial hub has enjoyed substantial political autonomy since 1997, when its leadership returned to China after about a century of British colonial rule.
CAH/NN/HRB
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