Hong Kong told not to politicise issues
by James Pomfret,
2016-03-07 05:52:08.0
BEIJING — China’s third-ranked Communist Party leader Zhang Dejiang said Hong Kong should not "politicise everything" and should focus instead on integrating its economy with China’s, according to members of China’s parliament who met with him on Sunday.
A day after Premier Li Keqiang pledged greater economic support for Hong Kong at the opening of annual parliamentary sessions in Beijing, Mr Zhang said that while a recent riot in Hong Kong was a concern, it was one the city’s government could handle.
"He (Zhang) said one needed to take a broader perspective to look at it, and to not politicise everything," said Rita Fan, a standing committee member of China’s parliament.
The Chinese media has blamed the riot in February on "radical separatists" seeking to destabilise Hong Kong.
Other delegates who met with Mr Zhang said that while he had not singled out anyone for blame, there remained concern among Beijing’s top leaders towards an embittered cluster of youth groups in Hong Kong using increasingly radical or violent means to demand greater autonomy.
China maintains Hong Kong is an inseparable part of China and resolutely opposes any moves towards independence.
"They worry about the rise of separatism," said Lau Siu-kai, a former senior Hong Kong government adviser who met with Mr Zhang on Friday with other members of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, a top parliamentary advisory body.
"If something big happens in Hong Kong that is seen as threatening national security, I don’t expect China to wait, they may take the initiative to protect national security," Mr Lau said.
Hong Kong was returned from British to Chinese rule in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" framework, granting it broad freedoms and an independent judiciary, with Beijing having ultimate authority.
As for the disappearances of five Hong Kong booksellers who published gossipy books of China’s leaders, this was not raised by Mr Zhang despite lingering questions about the cases.
All of the booksellers recently surfaced to give interviews on Chinese television, saying they had travelled voluntarily to China. But the British government maintains one of the men, Lee Bo, had been removed involuntarily from Hong Kong.
China’s foreign ministry has said that its law enforcement officials would never do anything illegal, especially not overseas, and called on foreign governments not to interfere in Hong Kong’s affairs.
"Even me, I still have some doubts … most of the middle class actually have serious concerns," Ma Fung-kwok, a Chinese parliamentary delegate, said.
Premier Li emphasised in his annual work report that Beijing would continue to "elevate" Hong Kong’s role in China’s economic development.
Reuters
China's President Xi Jinping (second row, centre), Premier Li Keqiang (second row, right of Mr Xi), and chairman of the standing committee of the National People's Congress Zhang Dejiang (second row, left of Mr Xi) and other members sing the national anthem during the opening session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on Friday. Picture: REUTERS/JASON LEE
BEIJING — China’s third-ranked Communist Party leader Zhang Dejiang said Hong Kong should not "politicise everything" and should focus instead on integrating its economy with China’s, according to members of China’s parliament who met with him on Sunday.
A day after Premier Li Keqiang pledged greater economic support for Hong Kong at the opening of annual parliamentary sessions in Beijing, Mr Zhang said that while a recent riot in Hong Kong was a concern, it was one the city’s government could handle.
"He (Zhang) said one needed to take a broader perspective to look at it, and to not politicise everything," said Rita Fan, a standing committee member of China’s parliament.
The Chinese media has blamed the riot in February on "radical separatists" seeking to destabilise Hong Kong.
Other delegates who met with Mr Zhang said that while he had not singled out anyone for blame, there remained concern among Beijing’s top leaders towards an embittered cluster of youth groups in Hong Kong using increasingly radical or violent means to demand greater autonomy.
China maintains Hong Kong is an inseparable part of China and resolutely opposes any moves towards independence.
"They worry about the rise of separatism," said Lau Siu-kai, a former senior Hong Kong government adviser who met with Mr Zhang on Friday with other members of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, a top parliamentary advisory body.
"If something big happens in Hong Kong that is seen as threatening national security, I don’t expect China to wait, they may take the initiative to protect national security," Mr Lau said.
Hong Kong was returned from British to Chinese rule in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" framework, granting it broad freedoms and an independent judiciary, with Beijing having ultimate authority.
As for the disappearances of five Hong Kong booksellers who published gossipy books of China’s leaders, this was not raised by Mr Zhang despite lingering questions about the cases.
All of the booksellers recently surfaced to give interviews on Chinese television, saying they had travelled voluntarily to China. But the British government maintains one of the men, Lee Bo, had been removed involuntarily from Hong Kong.
China’s foreign ministry has said that its law enforcement officials would never do anything illegal, especially not overseas, and called on foreign governments not to interfere in Hong Kong’s affairs.
"Even me, I still have some doubts … most of the middle class actually have serious concerns," Ma Fung-kwok, a Chinese parliamentary delegate, said.
Premier Li emphasised in his annual work report that Beijing would continue to "elevate" Hong Kong’s role in China’s economic development.
Reuters
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