US treads carefully in debate on democracy
America backs 'the greatest possible degree of autonomy'
The US State Department has voiced support for greater democracy in Hong Kong but said there is no need for America to help Hong Kong people 'practise democracy'.
State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said Democratic Party lawmaker Martin Lee Chu-ming and the US Secretary of State Colin Powell had a 'good meeting' on Friday, during which Mr Powell 'voiced our continuing support for the democratic process in Hong Kong'.
'We support the democratic process ... At the same time we are committed to the principles of the US-Hong Kong Policy Act and we support the greatest possible degree of autonomy in Hong Kong under the 'one country, two systems' formula',' Mr Ereli said.
When asked if the US supported Mr Lee's agenda to introduce full democracy to Hong Kong by 2007, Mr Ereli replied: 'We're not endorsing one person's policy or another person's policy. What we are endorsing is a government in Hong Kong that is responsive to the aspirations of the Hong Kong people.'
He added: 'The United States doesn't need to help the people of Hong Kong practise democracy. They have a long experience in that. They've got a dialogue with the Chinese government and with the Chinese, so that's a process that's already in place.'
His comments came as Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and some Hong Kong delegates to the National People's Congress continued their criticism of Mr Lee and three other democracy activists for testifying at a US Senate subcommittee hearing.
Mr Lee will return to Hong Kong this morning and hold a media conference about his trip at Chek Lap Kok airport.
Mr Li criticised some Hong Kong people for their attempts to invite foreign interference into the mainland's internal affairs regarding Hong Kong.
'Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong and China has the resolve, capability and wisdom to maintain stability and prosperity in Hong Kong,' Mr Li said.
He said Beijing did not welcome or need any foreign interference on the issue and that it was useless for people to 'beg' for foreign interference in Hong Kong affairs.
Tsang Hin-chi, a member of the NPC Standing Committee, also criticised Mr Lee and accused him of going to the US 'to stir up trouble'.
Wu Jianmin, a former Chinese ambassador to France, said: 'Some people in foreign countries are worried about the rise of China and always want to stir up trouble for our country. They intend to use Hong Kong affairs as a pretext to interfere in our internal affairs.'
The veteran diplomat served as a spokesman for the foreign ministry in the mid-1990s at the height of the Sino-British row on Hong Kong's electoral arrangements.
But tycoon Sir Gordon Wu Ying-sheung, a Hong Kong delegate to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, praised Mr Lee for emphasising 'one country' when he attended the hearing.
'At least he did not betray our country. I applaud him for his stance,' Sir Gordon said.
