HONG KONG, March 1 (Xinhua) -- The Office of the Commissioner of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) lodged solemn representations with the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong Friday over its top diplomat's recent remarks on Hong Kong affairs.
The Commissioner's Office said in a statement that China expressed strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to the erroneous remarks on Hong Kong affairs made by U.S. Consul General in Hong Kong Kurt Tong.
Firstly, the Commissioner's Office emphasized that since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the principles of "one country, two systems" and "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" with a high degree of autonomy have been successfully implemented in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong residents enjoy unprecedented rights and freedom in accordance with the law. Over the past year, Hong Kong's situation has been steadily moving towards better, which is an obvious fact for all to see and cannot be distorted, the office said.
Secondly, the Commissioner's Office said the central government has acted in strict compliance with the Constitution and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong SAR, and supported the government of the Hong Kong SAR in administering Hong Kong in accordance with the law.
The Hong Kong SAR government has taken a series of necessary measures to safeguard the principle of "one country, two systems" and Hong Kong's constitutional order, and consolidate the foundation for the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, it said.
Thirdly, the Commissioner's Office said that since Hong Kong's return to the mainland, Hong Kong has cemented its leading positions in its advantage areas and become more active in its external relations, and its business environment and international competitiveness are widely acknowledged by the international community.
Currently, Hong Kong is embracing new opportunities for its further integration into the national development strategy and new momentum for growth, with the international community's growing willingness to cooperate with Hong Kong.
The office said Hong Kong is an SAR of China and China will never allow any foreign government to interfere in Hong Kong affairs.
The Commissioner's Office urged related foreign institutions to respect the fact, abandon discrimination, abide by international law and the basic norms governing international relations, and respect China's sovereignty, security and development.
