China's Foreign Ministry has condemned American legislators as 'undemocratic' for suggesting members of the provisional legislature may be refused entry to the US.
Ministry spokesman Shen Guofang yesterday denounced Republican lawmakers who have indicated they will boycott any meeting with Legco delegates and have proposed that visas not be given to members seeking to travel to Washington.
'It is unreasonable and undemocratic,' Mr Shen said. 'There is a very bad international trend, which is to politicise all things.
'There are some people who now want to politicise Hong Kong,' Mr Shen said, accusing US legislators of 'ulterior motives'.
A spokesman for Republican Jesse Helms, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, earlier dismissed the provisional legislature as an 'illegitimate body' and said the senator would refuse to meet any Legco member of the handover body.
A Hong Kong delegation, including Legco member Allen Lee Peng-fei, plans to visit Washington next week.
