China denies changes in policies toward Hong Kong

BEIJING - A Foreign Ministry spokeswoman on Friday denied any changes in China's policy toward Hong Kong, while reiterating its opposition to foreign interference in Hong Kong affairs.

"We will firmly guard against and curb foreign interference in Hong Kong affairs and implementation of the "One Country, Two Systems" policy," said spokeswoman Hua Chunying at a regular press conference.

Hua's comments came after US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel R. Russel provided an overview of US policy toward Hong Kong in testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington on Wednesday.

Russel said, "We are concerned by signs that China's commitment to the 'One Country, Two Systems' model, as well as to maintaining a high degree of autonomy, are eroding."

Hua said the central government remains committed to the "One Country, Two Systems" principle and the Basic Law, firmly supports Hong Kong in developing democracy in line with the law, and endeavors to maintain the region's long-term prosperity and stability.

Development of Hong Kong's democratic institutions should be pushed ahead in accordance with the Basic Law and the decision of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), she said.

Under the Basic Law and the decision of the Standing Committee of the NPC, more than 5 million qualified Hong Kong voters could have a say in who will become the chief executive in 2017 through the "one man, one vote" election, which was never realized under British colonial rule.

The central government sincerely hopes people from all walks of life in Hong Kong can realize the chief executive election by universal suffrage in 2017 on the basis of rational discussion and consensus-building, said Hua.