HK LegCo File photo:VCG
The Chinese Mission to the EU has urged the bloc to discard their wrong stance on Hong Kong, stop saying and doing futile things, and interfering in Hong Kong's and other China's domestic affairs. This comes after the EU told Beijing to tread carefully on Hong Kong's election reform.
Hong Kong is part of China, and its electoral system is China's local election reform, said the mission, noting that how to design, develop and improve such a system is China's domestic matter. Any other foreign government, organization and individuals have no right to interfere.
A detailed draft decision to overhaul the Hong Kong electoral system with the aim of fixing existing loopholes was unveiled on Friday at the opening of the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC).
On the day the draft was issued, the EU office to Hong Kong and Macau said in a statement that "the EU calls on the authorities in Beijing to carefully consider the political and economic implications of any decision to reform the electoral system of Hong Kong that would undermine fundamental freedoms, political pluralism and democratic principles."
In response, the Chinese Mission to the EU said that the situation in Hong Kong in recent years has shown that the region's system needs to be improved, to provide systematic support for implementing "one country, two systems," and "patriots governing Hong Kong."
The NPC's decision on Hong Kong electoral system reform is in accordance with the Constitution and the Basic Law; its authority and legitimacy are indubitable, said the mission.
On behalf of 70 countries, a representative of Belarus to the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council expressed support for China's implementation of "one country, two systems" in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and urged certain countries to stop interfering in China's internal affairs.
Kham-Inh Khitchadeth, Permanent Representative of the Lao People's Democratic Republic to the UN, said that the NPC’s decision will play a constructive role in safeguarding Hong Kong’s stability and prosperity. At the same time, the representative said he believed this decision will help better implement the “one country, two systems” principle.
Hussain Andrabi, Deputy Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, said that he believed Hong Kong’s electoral system, after being reformed, will play a constructive role in maintaining the city’s long-term development and stability.
Chen Xu, China's Permanent Representative to the UN Office at Geneva said during Friday's press conference that joint statement from 70 countries serve as solid evidence that China's measures in Hong Kong has a strong support amongst other members.
Chen said that under the guise of human rights, certain Western countries' conspiracy of using Hong Kong to pressure China and interfere in its domestic affairs is doomed to fail.
Global Times