China resolves to uphold grip over HK

BEIJING: China’s Communist party on Thursday vowed to uphold the “one country, two systems” mechanism with regards to Hong Kong and to strengthen “absolute” leadership over the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

A communique issued at the end of the four-day secretive meeting of the party’s Central committee (CC) touched on issues such as governance, tacking internal and external problems, strengthening party control and improving the environment. The CC praised the party in glowing terms for the role it played in leading China and improving the lives of its 1.4 billion people.

As many as 371 CC members took part in the fourth plenary meet of the 19th CC. The meeting took place in the backdrop of the ongoing pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, the lingering trade war with the US and the slowing down of the Chinese economy. The plenum resolved that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macao Special Administrative Region must be governed in strict accordance with the Constitution and the Basic Law. It added that the CPC will “peacefully” reunify Taiwan, which Beijing says is a breakaway region.

In Hong Kong, police fired tear gas to break up masked anti-government protesters mingling with Halloween revellers in fancy dress near the upmarket club district of Lan Kwai Fong on Thursday after a standoff lasting hours. Police also used tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters, many dressed in black and wearing banned face masks.