China urges US to stop sending wrong signals to Hong Kong separatists

Iran Press TV

Thu Aug 8, 2019 09:33AM

China has filed stern representations with the United States, urging US officials to stop sending wrong signals to "violent separatists" in the international financial hub.

The office of the commissioner of China's Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong further said on its website on Thursday that Beijing had asked Washington to issue clarifications on media reports that US officials were in contact with leaders of the separatists.

For the past nearly two months, Hong Kong has been the scene of protests over an extradition bill that would have allowed suspects to be tried in mainland courts.

While the government of the semi-autonomous Chinese region has effectively backed away from the bill, protests have persisted, with individuals sometimes resorting to violence and vandalizing government buildings.

Protesters are demanding the resignation of Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam and a permanent withdrawal of the controversial bill.

Beijing, which has sovereignty over the city, has already warned that it is ready to quell the "intolerable" unrest if requested.

Washington adamantly backs the unrest in Hong Kong despite official protests by Beijing, which warns against foreign meddling in the city's affairs.

Hong Kong has been governed under a "one-country, two-system" model since the city – a former British colony – was returned to China in 1997.

Beijing has said the recent unrest is stoked by "radical protesters" who pose an "open challenge to the central government's authority." It says the US and the UK are meddling in Hong Kong's, and China's, affairs.

The US and Britain were among the Western countries that opposed the extradition bill as well.