China is warning foreign institutions who are planning to meddle in Hong Kong affairs in any way, a spokesperson from Hong Kong’s Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Thursday, May 4.
The statement was a result of the recently held hearing of the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China regarding the current state of political affairs in Hong Kong, according to Xinhua.
There is wide speculation in and out of the city, especially by pro-democracy groups, that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s “one country, two system” scheme is slowly being undermined by pro-China elements.
In regard to that issue, the spokesman reiterated that China is deeply committed to keeping Hong Kong a semi-autonomous city, and has been so in the past 20 years since the city’s handover by Britain.
The special relationship between China and Hong Kong, the spokesman said, has led to the maintained stability and prosperity in the city, where locals exercise the rights they’ve enjoyed within the accordance of the law.
The spokesperson said: “This is the fact widely recognized by anyone without bias. The determination of the Chinese Central Government to implement the ‘one country, two systems’ in a full and faithful manner in accordance with the Constitution and the Basic Law remains firm and will not change.”
The spokesman, however, reiterated that although Hong Kong enjoys the status of being a special administrative region, local affairs and issues are still part of China’s overall agenda and policy-making.
The spokesman also referred to the special hearing, saying that the United States has confused Hong Kong and China policy, and as a result, indirectly interfered with China’s very own affairs.
“It grossly meddled in Hong Kong affairs and openly interfered in China’s domestic affairs," the spokesperson said. "The Chinese side is gravely concerned and firmly oppose to such move.”