No space for Hong Kong independence: China

BEIJING: There is no space for Hong touched in could not limit the Chinese parliament’s Kong independence in the “one country, Wang said. ability to interpret the Basic Law. two systems” agreement under which As “one country, two systems” is “It needs to be pointed out that Beijing governs the former British new, it has no ready-made experience the independence of the legal system colony, but there can be tolerance for to draw from, and it’s normal that is an important principle of the rule differences in their systems, a senior in this process “new situations, new of law in Hong Kong, and the central Chinese official said. problems and new challenges” will government has always cherished and

Chinese leaders are increasingly arise, he added. protected the independence of Hong concerned about a fledgling “You can’t expect Kong’s legal system.” independence movement in Hong sailing,” Wang said. Chinese President Xi Jinping told Kong, which returned to mainland rule “The central government has outgoing Hong Kong Chief Executive in 1997 with a promise of autonomy confidence in and patience with Hong Leung Chun-ying last week that China’s known as “one country, two systems”, Kong. As long as the ‘one country’ central government strongly supports and recent protests in the city. principle is not damaged, the differences efforts by the Hong Kong government

The head of China’s Hong Kong in the ‘ two systems’ absolutely can be to curb moves by some promoting Macau Affairs Office, Wang Guangya, tolerated and respected,” he added. independence for the global financial told pro-Beijinghub.HongKongmagazineChina’sparliamentlastmonthstaged ‘The Bauhinia’ that “under ‘one country, a rare interpretation of the Basic Law, Hong Kong returned to China two systems’ there is absolutely no Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, to under the “one country, two systems” space for ‘ Hong Kong independence’”, effectively bar pro-independence city agreement that ensured its freedoms in comments carried in the ruling lawmakers from taking office there. and wide-ranging autonomy, including Communist Party’s ‘ People’s Daily’ on In separate comments from the a separate legal system. Saturday. same interview reported by the official But Communist Party rulers in

“Hong Kong is an inseparable part Xinhua news agency late Friday, Wang Beijing have ultimate control, and some of the country, and in no situation is said the intepretation did not harm the Hong Kong people are concerned they ‘Hong Kong independence’ allowed.” independence of Hong Kong’s legal are increasingly interfering to head off

“This is a bottom line that cannot be system, but that that independence dissent. ‘one country, two systems’,” it to be all plain