SENIOR Chinese officials in Hong Kong yesterday criticised the Hong Kong Government for ''interfering'' in the expulsion of Han Dongfang, which they described as ''purely a Chinese matter''.
Deputy director of Xinhua (the New China News Agency), Zhang Junsheng, criticised the Government's ''hasty reaction'' on the expulsion of Mr Han, who allegedly was involved in anti-government activities during 11 months overseas.
However, the criticism was rejected by the Governor's press secretary, Mike Hanson, who said the Government was simply reflecting anxiety and concern in the community.
Mr Zhang said: ''It appears really strange to me that the foreigners are neither concerned with our developing economy nor the living standard of our 1.1 billion population.
''Yet, when it comes to people who have committed crimes in our country, they cannot wait to show their concern,'' he said.
''Based on what kinds of power could they interfere in the internal matter of China like this?'' Mr Zhang said it was misleading for the Government to link the issue to the freedom of re-entering Hong Kong after the changeover in 1997.
''Hong Kong will be governed by its own law after 1997 and any similar matters will be ruled by the law of Hong Kong,'' he said.
