Donald Trump ‘right’ to stay out of Hong Kong extradition bill dispute, Beijing says
- US president showed the ‘right attitude’ by saying problem can be resolved by governments in Hong Kong and Beijing
- Trump describes protesters as ‘very effective’ in interview with Time magazine
US President Donald Trump showed the “right attitude” in suggesting the dispute over Hong Kong’s controversial extradition bill is a matter that can be resolved by authorities in the city and in Beijing, China’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday.
“Trump said he believed the central Chinese government and the Hong Kong government can properly handle the issue,” ministry spokesman Lu Kang said. “I believe this is the right attitude.”
Lu was speaking after Trump commented on the protests in an interview with Time magazine, which was published in the US on Tuesday.
He described the protesters as “very effective”, but said China and Hong Kong could “work out their problem”.
While he did not express an opinion on the dispute itself, he said: “I’m going to let the protesters speak for themselves. I have our own argument with China, and I think it’s going to work out successfully, but I’m going to let China and the protesters work out their own problem. It looks like it’s going to be worked out.”