'Face the reality': China says UK has no responsibility for Hong Kong 
Updated 20:47, 01-Nov-2019
CGTN
Asia;

China on Thursday expressed strong disapproval and firm opposition against Britain's constant interference in Hong Kong affairs after the European country released another "Six-Monthly Report on Hong Kong."

"The British side has no sovereignty over Hong Kong, nor does it have any administrative or supervisory powers since its return. It has no so-called responsibility for Hong Kong at all," said Geng Shuang, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, during a regular press briefing on Friday. 

Since the return of Hong Kong to the motherland in 1997, policies including "One Country, Two Systems," "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy have been earnestly carried out, Geng said. 

"This is an objective fact that any unbiased person can acknowledge."

The central government is firm and resolute in implementing "One Country, Two Systems," safeguarding national sovereignty rights and interests, and ensuring Hong Kong's prosperity and stability in the long term, he noted. 

Stressing that Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs, Geng said that China advises Britain to face the reality, respect China's sovereignty and stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs in any form. 

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang speaks during a press conference in Beijing. /Photo via Chinese government website

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang speaks during a press conference in Beijing. /Photo via Chinese government website

China strongly opposes UK's constant interference in HK affairs

The release of the report also drew criticism from the Office of Commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR).

The spokesperson of the commissioner's office pointed out that Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs, and opposed Britain's constant interference in Hong Kong affairs with such reports.

The spokesperson pointed out that the report has confounded right with wrong, failed to distinguish the SAR government's law-based governance and the police's law enforcement efforts from the crime committed by violent extremists, and endorsed the opposition and violent demonstrators in Hong Kong between the lines.

The Hong Kong SAR government on Thursday also issued a statement in response to Britain's report, reiterating that no external forces are allowed to interference in Hong Kong affairs.

The SAR government highly values residents' rights and freedom, the statement noted. 

(With input from Xinhua)