The ministry emphasized that Hong Kong is part of China through the “one country, two systems” policy, and that the special administration region’s issues are internal affairs. It also said, “Hong Kong residents enjoy unprecedented level of democracy.”
“The U.S. is creating a false reality, confusing right and wrong, publicly supporting crazy violent criminals in carrying out vandalism, violence against innocent citizens, and disruption to the city’s peace,” the foreign ministry said.
Hong Kong, a former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997, has been engulfed in months of anti-government protests. Initially sparked by a bill that would have enabled extradition to mainland China, the protests have morphed into broader anti-government demonstrations, including a wider range of demands such as greater democracy and universal suffrage.
The city’s government also slammed the bills in an earlier statement.
The Hong Kong government “expressed strong opposition” to the bills becoming law and said it “extremely regrets the U.S. repeatedly ignoring Hong Kong’s concern regarding the two bills,” according to a CNBC translation.
“These two bills are an obvious intervention of Hong Kong’s internal affairs, they are unnecessary and without grounds, they will also harm the relationship and interests between Hong Kong and the U.S.,” the Hong Kong government said in a statement.
A Hong Kong government spokesman also said the bills will send the “wrong message” to protesters, “providing no help to ease Hong Kong’s situation.”
“We advise the U.S. not to act arbitrarily, or else China must firmly counteract, and the U.S. must bear all resulting consequences,” China’s foreign ministry said in its statement.
— CNBC’s Vivian Kam contributed to this report.
Source Article from https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/28/china-condemns-us-bills-supporting-hong-kong-protesters.html
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