Beijing has dismissed a report by a US congressional commission, which as well as flagging up concerns over human rights on the mainland, warns of challenges to Hong Kong's autonomy, rule of law and press freedoms.
The US Congressional-Executive Commission on China makes repeated references to Hong Kong in its annual report, warning that the actions of the SAR and central governments since last year's Occupy protests raise "serious concerns about the future of the freedoms and rule of law that distinguish Hong Kong from mainland China and underpin Hong Kong's financial reputation and prosperity.”
It says attacks on journalists and editorial and financial pressures placed on media organisations by advertisers have contributed to the steady erosion of press freedoms.
The commission questions whether the US should continue to treat Hong Kong separately from the mainland “given the increasing role played by the central government in deciding the territory’s political development and the corresponding erosions in Hong Kong’s autonomy and freedom of expression.”
It recommends that Members of Congress consider expressing support for democracy in Hong Kong during any visits to the territory and the mainland.
It says they should urge the Hong Kong authorities to reaffirm the rights of the people to assemble and demonstrate peacefully, and the right of journalists to work safely and without hindrance.
The commission also said it saw a disturbing deterioration in human rights and rule of law conditions on the mainland that pose a direct challenge to America’s interests and US-China relations.
In response to the report, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular briefing that US officials and the American public must be more objective. "This report has nothing new, embraces a persistent bias in order to make irresponsible remarks about China's domestic affairs, and makes criticisms that don't accord with the facts," Hua said.
The US Congressional-Executive Commission on China makes repeated references to Hong Kong in its annual report, warning that the actions of the SAR and central governments since last year's Occupy protests raise "serious concerns about the future of the freedoms and rule of law that distinguish Hong Kong from mainland China and underpin Hong Kong's financial reputation and prosperity.”
It says attacks on journalists and editorial and financial pressures placed on media organisations by advertisers have contributed to the steady erosion of press freedoms.
The commission questions whether the US should continue to treat Hong Kong separately from the mainland “given the increasing role played by the central government in deciding the territory’s political development and the corresponding erosions in Hong Kong’s autonomy and freedom of expression.”
It recommends that Members of Congress consider expressing support for democracy in Hong Kong during any visits to the territory and the mainland.
It says they should urge the Hong Kong authorities to reaffirm the rights of the people to assemble and demonstrate peacefully, and the right of journalists to work safely and without hindrance.
The commission also said it saw a disturbing deterioration in human rights and rule of law conditions on the mainland that pose a direct challenge to America’s interests and US-China relations.
In response to the report, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular briefing that US officials and the American public must be more objective. "This report has nothing new, embraces a persistent bias in order to make irresponsible remarks about China's domestic affairs, and makes criticisms that don't accord with the facts," Hua said.
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1216493-20151010.htm
