China yesterday called on the Governor to clearly state whether the Hong Kong Government still abided by the 'one China' principle. Zhang Junsheng , the deputy director of Xinhua (the New China News Agency), said press freedom in the territory was guaranteed under the Basic Law. But he said the Basic Law also forbade subversive or secessionist activities and this should be followed by everyone, including the press. He questioned the Government's call for Lu Ping to clarify his remarks about banning articles supporting Taiwan's independence. He said even Britain supported the one China policy and asked whether Chris Patten or the Hong Kong Government was abandoning the principle. 'Britain only recognises one China and it is going to hand over Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China next year,' he said. 'I don't see how Britain could allow anyone to secede from the country.' Mr Zhang also said it was not difficult to differentiate between objective reporting and agitative articles. Mr Lu, the Director of Beijing's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, said in an interview with CNN last week that the press would not be allowed to advocate 'two Chinas' or to support Taiwan's independence after the handover. A government spokesman said Mr Lu's remarks were 'quite puzzling' and urged him to clarify his position. According to the spokesman, Mr Lu said he saw no need for many changes to the laws about freedom of the press, but that newspapers would not be allowed to express certain views to which they are entitled under existing laws. But Liberal Party chairman Allen Lee Peng-fei said Mr Lu was only expressing his personal opinion. Mr Lee, a Preparatory Committee member, said it would be up to the Special Administrative Region government to decide on these issues. Another committee member, Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai, said the Preparatory Committee should work with the team designate to draw up regulations on secessionist or subversive activities by the end of the year.
