Chinese officials lashed out yesterday at the US' top envoy in Hong Kong for expressing concern over the erosion of the territory's freedom.
"Hong Kong's affairs are the internal matter of China. It is totally inappropriate for Michael Klosson, as US Consul General in Hong Kong, to make irresponsible comments," a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry office in Hong Kong said.
The ticking off follows a speech Klosson gave in Houston on Feb. 15 when he cited recent events he felt warranted particular attention.
"Some events over the 18 months that I've been in Hong Kong, coupled with several earlier, raise concerns which highlight that Hong Kong's situation merits continued attention from the Unites States and other major partners which have interests at stake," Klosson told a meeting of the Asia Society.
He singled out Hong Kong's handling of the Falun Gong spiritual movement and referred to remarks made by China's President Jiang Zemin (江澤民) last December that the local media ought to play a more positive role.
"These remarks prompted concerns that China was calling for limitations on the exercise of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong," Klosson said.
This was partly prompted when local officials said they would not allow the territory to become a base for the Falun Gong, a group that is legal in Hong Kong but outlawed and characterized as an "evil cult" in China.
Local authorities have not taken further action against Falun Gong. However, the government is coming under increasing pressure from Beijing to ban the group, reports indicated yesterday.
The head of the Chinese state council's religious affairs office, Ye Xiaowen (葉小文), told a religious conference in Hong Kong on Monday that no responsible government would turn a blind eye to the "evil acts" Falun Gong committed.
Ye stopped short of dictating what the territory should do but said he was confident the "Hong Kong public have the wisdom" to deal with Falun Gong, the South China Morning Post reported.
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