‘HK has no right to self-determination’

hong Kong: It is completely absurd and ignorant to state that “Hong Kong has the right to self-determination”, Chinese diplomatic authorities said.

A spokesman for the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region made the remarks on Wednesday in response to an article published by Wall Street Journal (Asia Edition).

Wall Street Journal’s Nov 10 article “Give Hong Kong Its Right to SelfDetermination” stated that “it is time to advance our struggle to achieve the right to self-determination” and “the people of Hong Kong must challenge the legitimacy of our existing constitution”.

“The writers of the article are openly advocating ‘Hong Kong independence’,” the spokesman said in a letter to Wall Street Journal editors, which was published on Wednesday.

“Hong Kong is not a colony. It has been part of the Chinese territory in history and in reality, as well as in legal terms, which is recognised by the United Nations and countries around the world.

“Thus, it is totally absurd and ignorant to state that ‘Hong Kong has the right to self-determination’,” the spokesman added.

The spokesman said what Hong Kong did enjoy, under the “one country, two systems” formula, was a high degree of autonomy.

“One country” serves as the prerequisite and guarantee for the implementation of “two systems”.

“It is gravely wrong and dangerous to claim that Hong Kong is not part of China and challenge the country’s sovereignty and Constitution by advocating ‘self-determination’ and ‘independence’, which will undermine the interests of the country, of Hong Kong itself and its residents,” the spokesman said.

“The Chinese central government adopts zero tolerance for ‘Hong Kong independence’ activity of whatever form. We are committed to this unequivocal position with no leniency.” — Xinhua

It is gravely wrong and dangerous to claim that Hong Kong is not part of China. Spokesman for China’s Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs