The Office of the Commissioner of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) criticized a US diplomat Monday for his irresponsible comment on the HKSAR affairs in a speech delivered on February 15.
"Since Hong Kong's return to China, the Central Government has always firmly implemented the principles and policies of 'one country, two systems,' 'Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong' and a high degree of autonomy, strictly abided by all the provisions of the Basic Law, and has refrained from interfering in affairs within the high degree of autonomy enjoyed by HKSAR," said a spokesperson of the office in refuting the remarks made by US Consul General in Hong Kong, Michael Klosson, to the Asia Society in Houston, the United States.
"This is a fact widely acknowledged. HKSAR's affairs are the internal matter of China. It is totally inappropriate for Mr. Michael Klosson, as US Consul General in Hong Kong, to make irresponsible comments," the spokesperson added.
In his speech, Klosson expressed concerns that the Central Government of China was calling for limitations on the exercise of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong.
(People’s Daily 02/20/2001)
