China tells UK to back off after Boris Johnson warns of Beijing's increasing influence over Hong Kong

UK foreign secretary cites recent cases in the city as cause for worry, but local authorities say foreign governments should stay out of its affairs

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UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson says the British government has consistently raised its concerns about the ‘one country, two systems’ policy with Chinese and Hong Kong authorities. Photo: EPA/ Neil Hall

Published: 7:32am, 16 Mar 2018Updated: 8:45pm, 16 Mar 2018

China has told the UK to back off after British foreign secretary Boris Johnson doubled down on concerns that the “one country, two systems” governing formula for Hong Kong was coming under increasing pressure.

Beijing’s foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Friday that Hong Kong affairs were purely China’s affairs, and accused Britain of making “irresponsible remarks” by releasing its latest six-monthly report on the city.

“Since July 1, 1997, Hong Kong affairs have been China’s internal affairs,” Lu said. “Britain has no power to intervene. There is no room for interference.”

‘Important areas’ of ‘one country, two systems’ under threat, UK foreign secretary says in report

He said the UK’s remarks would only lead to resentment among Chinese citizens.

Britain handed Hong Kong back to Chinese rule in 1997 after 150 years.

Under the “one country, two systems” formula, Hong Kong is allowed a high degree of autonomy until 2047, even though incidents such as the missing booksellers saga of 2015 sparked fears about the erosion of civil liberties and freedoms.

The construction site of the West Kowloon terminus. Photo: Roy Issa

In his latest six-monthly report to the UK parliament, Johnson cited cases in the second half of 2017 that were seen as a threat to the principle, such as a British activist who was denied entry into Hong Kong, and the ousting of lawmakers over an oath-taking saga in the city’s legislature.

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