“Stop Meddling”: China Tells the UK To Steer Clear From Hong Kong
China warned UK to stop meddling in Hong Kong after Britain’s Foreign Ministry through Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab called Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam Friday to discuss the ongoing protests in the city.
According to Britain’s foreign ministry, Foreign Secretary Raab emphasized the need for a “fully independent investigation into recent events.”
The call did not sit well with Beijing.
“China solemnly demands that the British side immediately stop all actions that meddle in Hong Kong affairs and interfere in China’s internal affairs,” said Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying Saturday.
Hua criticized Raab’s move and demanded Britain to stop meddling in the ongoing protests in Hong Kong.
Just last month, China told Britain to keep its hands-off Hong Kong after London called for Beijing to honor the agreements made when the city was handed over in 1997.
Beijing denounced British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt as “shameless” after he warned of consequences if China did not abide by the Sino-British Joint Declaration in 1984 on the terms of the return of Hong Kong, which allows freedoms not enjoyed in mainland China, including the right to protest.
“We can make it clear we stand behind the people of Hong Kong in defense of the freedoms that we negotiated for them when we agreed to the handover in 1997 and we can remind everyone that we expect all countries to honor their international obligations,” Hunt told reporters.
Hunt’s words clearly offended Beijing.
China’s London envoy warned Britain and said meddling in Hong Kong would have serious repercussions on the relationship between the 2 nations.
“The UK government chose to stand on the wrong side: it has made inappropriate remarks not only to interfere in internal affairs of Hong Kong but also to back up the violent law-breakers,” China’s ambassador to London, Liu Xiaoming, said.
“In the minds of some people, they regard Hong Kong as still under British rule. They forget … that Hong Kong has now returned to the embrace of the Motherland,” Liu stated.
“I tell them: hands off Hong Kong and show respect. This colonial mindset is still haunting the minds of some officials or politicians,” Liu told reporters.
About The Author