London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, May 31, 2025

Hong Kong: China accuses the UK of 'gross interference' in its affairs

Hong Kong: China accuses the UK of 'gross interference' in its affairs

The British government has accused China of going against the joint declaration it signed to maintain autonomy in Hong Kong.
China has accused the UK of "trampling" on the basic norms of international relations - and said Britain's offer of citizenship for Hong Kongers is a "gross interference in China's internal affairs".

Liu Xiaoming, China's ambassador to the UK, claimed Boris Johnson's government "keeps making irresponsible remarks" about Hong Kong.

A new national security law makes secessionist, subversive, or terrorist activities illegal, as well as foreign intervention in the city's internal affairs.

Mr Liu denied China had failed to fulfil its international obligations after the British government accused it of breaching the Sino-British Joint Declaration, which was supposed to give Hong Kong almost full autonomy until 2047.

In a news conference - five days after being summoned to the Foreign Office in London - Mr Liu said: "China rules Hong Kong by the basic law, not the joint declaration."

He said he was holding the news conference to ensure the British public understands the national security law it imposed on Hong Kong last week, claiming the media's coverage was "full of misrepresentations".

The ambassador said the new law does not change Hong Kong's "capitalist system", its high degree of autonomy or its legal systems - something critics and protesters dispute.

Mr Liu said the security law protects Hong Kong and "will end the chaos and restore order" to the city after months of protests against what demonstrators see as growing encroachment by China.

He went on to accuse the UK of failing to fulfil its international obligations of sovereign equality and not interfering in other countries' relations.

"The UK side knows well that Hong Kong is no longer under its colonial rule and that Hong Kong has returned to China and is now part of China," he said.

"The UK has no sovereignty, jurisdiction or right of supervision over Hong Kong after the handover.

"However, the UK government keeps making irresponsible comments on Hong Kong affairs, making unwarranted accusations against China."

The British government has offered a path to citizenship for nearly three million people in Hong Kong who were eligible for British National Overseas status ahead of the handover back to China in 1997.

Reacting to the offer, Mr Liu said: "This move constitutes gross interference in China's internal affairs and openly tramples on the basic norms of international relations

"Hong Kong is a part of China, Hong Kong affairs are Chinese internal affairs and there should be no external interference.

"One important task is to prevent, suppress and punish collusion with a foreign country which endangers national security. No one should underestimate the firm determination of China to safeguard its security."

Mr Liu added that China will decide what its full response is to the UK's offer to Hong Kongers once it has seen details of the plan - adding that he hopes the UK "will reconsider their position".

Sky News' foreign affairs editor Deborah Haynes asked the ambassador about controversial Chinese telecoms company Huawei and the British government's concern over using it to implement a 5G network.

Mr Liu said: "If you don't want Huawei, it's up to you."

But he warned the consequences "might be many" if the UK decides to reject Huawei, saying a move will damage the UK's image as a business-friendly environment and signal it does not have independent foreign policy.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
U.S. Goods Imports Plunge Nearly 20% Amid Tariff Disruptions
OpenAI Faces Competition from Cheaper AI Rivals
Foreign Tax Provision in U.S. Budget Bill Alarms Investors
Trump Accuses China of Violating Trade Agreement
Gerry Adams Wins Libel Case Against BBC
Russia Accuses Serbia of Supplying Arms to Ukraine
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
Chinese Woman Dies After Being Forced to Visit Bank Despite Critical Illness
President Trump Grants Full Pardons to Reality TV Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley
Texas Enacts App Store Accountability Act Mandating Age Verification
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Vatican Calls for Sustainable Tourism in 2025 Message
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on iPhones Amid Dispute with Apple CEO
Putin's Helicopter Reportedly Targeted by Ukrainian Drones
Liverpool Car Ramming Incident Leaves Multiple Injured
Australia Faces Immigration Debate Following Labor Party Victory
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
Macron Dismisses Viral Video of Wife's Gesture as Playful Banter
Cleveland Clinic Study Questions Effectiveness of Recent Flu Vaccine
Netanyahu Accuses Starmer of Siding with Hamas
Junior Doctors Threaten Strike Over 4% Pay Offer
Labour MPs Urge Chancellor to Tax Wealthy Over Cutting Welfare
Publication of UK Child Poverty Strategy Delayed Until Autumn
France Detains UK Fishing Vessel Amid Post-Brexit Tensions
Calls Grow to Resume Syrian Asylum Claims in UK
Nigel Farage Pledges to Reinstate Winter Fuel Payments
Boris and Carrie Johnson Welcome Daughter Poppy
×