CHINA has warned of new difficulties in Sino-British relations following a Hong Kong Government decision not to block a pro-Taiwan group from holding a Double Tenth show in an Urban Council centre yesterday.
A strongly worded statement was issued by the Foreign Ministry just hours after the Chinese Cultural Association (CCA) held celebrations of Taiwan's National Day at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.
Unlike similar events in the past, Taiwan's flag was not seen inside or outside the venue.
Urban Services Department staff made strict security checks on attendees to prevent any photography, recording or videotaping.
The organiser, however, denied there had been pressure from the Hong Kong Government not to hoist the flag.
Cheung Hon-chung, secretary-general of the CCA, said: 'We have to stick to the regulations, and that of course does not mean we suffer from any political pressure.' When asked if it was acceptable to have the National Day celebration without the national flag, John Ni Chang-i, Taiwan's top representative in Hong Kong, said: 'Our national flag exists in our hearts and minds.' He said that no matter what China had said about the banning of Taiwanese celebrations after the handover, no one could change the fact that the Republic of China had existed for 83 years.