China convenes US envoy to complain about Hong Kong's remarks

China's vice-minister of Foreign Affairs has summoned Robert Forden, vice-head of the US mission in Beijing, to be tough on recent US comments

Beijing / Washington:

China convened on Friday a high-ranking US diplomat to file an official complaint regarding the US comments in Hong Kong, after the US bill requiring the government to justify the continued special treatment of the territory.

The two-party Senatorial legislation, sponsored by several high-ranking senators, would require the US Secretary of State to issue an annual certification of Hong Kong autonomy to justify special treatment under the US Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992.

The bill, introduced by republican senator Marco Rubio and democratic senator Ben Cardin, would also require the u.s. president to identify those responsible for the abduction of booksellers and other persons in Hong Kong and subjecting them to u.s. sanctions.

The bill is part of a political crisis in the former British colony, where protests led to a proposed law allowing extradition to mainland China.

The chinese vice-minister of foreign Affairs has summoned Robert Forden, deputy chief of the u.s. mission in Beijing, to express his opposition to the comments and actions of recent United States about Hong Kong and the extradition act. He also urged Washington to stop interfering in the city's Affairs immediately.

The urged Washington not to take any measures harmful to the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, the ministry said in a statement.

"We urge the United States to treat the Hong Kong government objectively and fairly and to respect its normal legislative process," said Mr. Le.

"China will monitor the actions of the US side and react further," he added without further clarification.

Hong Kong reverted to Chinese domination in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" agreement which guaranteed it special autonomy, including freedom of Assembly, a free press and an independent judiciary.

There are many who accuse China, where the courts are strictly controlled by the Communist Party, of having interfered extensively since then, with extradition proposals being another example.

Earlier Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Affairs expressed its " extreme dissatisfaction "with the U.S. bill, calling it"flagrante delicto and gross interference".

China called on the US "to renounce its illusion of creating chaos in Hong Kong, to stop pressuring the proposed bill and to stop interfering in China's internal affairs," spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular press conference.

The bill would also require the president to develop a strategy to protect US citizens and businesses from the effects of a revised extradition law, and the US Department of Commerce to publish an annual report assessing whether Hong Kong was correctly applying United States and United Nations sanctions, particularly those provided for. Iran and North Korea.

Moreover, the legislation would make it clear that Hong Kong citizens should not be denied a visa to the United States if they were arrested or detained for their protest activities.

Clashes erupted Thursday between protesters and police in Hong Kong, as hundreds of persons devoted themselves as a sign of protest against the law on the extradition one day after the police had fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowds.