by Ambassador Cheng Xueyuan
What happened recently in Hong Kong Autonomous Region (SAR) of China has shocked the world. On 1 July, the 22nd anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to mainland China, some riots with the dressed lie of democracy, acted like cruel extremists, broke into the Legislative Council building of Hong Kong, and vandalized various facilities. What enraged China and shocked the world further is British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt’s remarks on the second day. Mr. Hunt said that the UK stands behind people in Hong Kong in defence of the freedoms that Britain negotiated for them, and the Hong Kong authorities must not use demonstrators’ vandalism as a pretext for repression.
I would stress that China has resumed sovereignty over Hong Kong and the Chinese government started administering Hong Kong since 1997. The 150 years’ humiliating history of Hong Kong being a colony to UK since 1840s has gone. It seems that someone is still immersed in the faded glory of colonialism. Mr. Hunt is obsessed with condescendingly criticizing other countries and keeps lying without remorse.
First, after Hong Kong’s return to China, British rights and obligations as outlined in the Sino-British Joint Declaration were completed. The UK has no sovereignty or rights to rule and supervise Hong Kong after the handover. There is no room for Britain to claim any so-called responsibility over Hong Kong whatsoever. Claiming itself the guardian of Hong Kong is nothing more than self-entertaining.
Second, Mr Hunt says that the UK negotiated freedoms for Hong Kong. How brazen is that! Was there any democracy when the British governors were in Hong Kong? People in Hong Kong didn’t even have the right to take to the streets then. It is only after the return that Hong Kong residents started enjoying unprecedented democratic rights and freedoms. The Chinese Government strictly follows the Constitution and the Basic Law. It earnestly implements the “one country, two systems” policy. It ensures that the people of Hong Kong govern Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy.
Third, the violent storming into the Legislative Council on July 1 is a grave illegal activity. It tramples on the rule of law and undermines social order. In total disregard of facts, Mr. Hunt called the SAR government’s response “repression”. That is entirely misleading. We want to ask Mr. Hunt, if it were the British Parliament that had been broken into and vandalized, what would the British government do? Will it sit by idly and let the protesters have their way? Will he call the British police’s handling of the August 2011 riot in London “repression”?
Those external forces who under the disguise of all self-boasting justice and human rights, are actually bullying other countries all the time while interfering with others’ internal affairs. In the colonial times, they exploited wealth and enslaved people from other countries. In the new ear, with the old mindset, they are making use of every opportunity to stick nose into others’ internal affairs and create chaos.
Countries like China and Sri Lanka, who shared a common history of being bullied and colonized by powers should always remain vigilant in terms of external interference. Such interference can never bring benefits, but only trouble, chaos and disasters. China, adhering to independent and peaceful diplomatic policies, will never interfere with others’ internal affairs and is strongly against such behavior. We should always insist on independence, fight against external interference and make their own decisions. Only in this way can we march toward the right direction and embrace a brighter future.
