China urges US commission to stop interfering in HK affairs

BEIJING -- China on Thursday slammed a hearing of the US Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) regarding Hong Kong affairs.

"The hearing is an overt interference in China's internal affairs. China is strongly dissatisfied and firmly opposed to it," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang.

The hearing, held on May 3, was titled "Will the Hong Kong Model Survive?: An Assessment 20 years After the Handover."

Geng said over the past two decades, the policies of "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong," and a high degree of autonomy had been implemented in effect.

"This is a fact accepted by anyone without prejudice," he told a daily press briefing.

The spokesperson said the CECC has always been biased on issues regarding China.

"The hearing, which said the 'one country, two systems' model met encroachments, and press freedom and judicial independence were threatened, disregard the fact and has ulterior motives," Geng said.

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China, and HK affairs are purely China's internal affairs, said the spokesperson.

"We strongly oppose any foreign country interfering in HK affairs through any means," he said, adding it is futile for a handful of HK people collaborating with foreign forces to intervene in HK affairs.