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Beijing is not tightening grip on Hong Kong but has had to spell out jurisdiction because of constant separatist noises, former official Xu Ze says
- Ex-deputy director of Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office says Beijing is not trying to strip away power when it emphasises China’s constitution applies to city
- All issues regarding city’s powers were settled years ago, he tells forum
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Beijing is not tightening its grip on Hong Kong but needs to “say out loud” it has overall jurisdiction because of the constant noise from those who want to separate the city from China, a former senior official says.
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Xu Ze, former deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office under the State Council, spoke at a forum on Friday just hours after the United States said it was disappointed by the convictions of nine leaders of the 2014 Occupy protests and warned that “continued erosion” of the “one country, two systems” governing formula would risk the city’s special international status.
The US Department of State, in a statement released on Friday morning, also said it was closely monitoring a proposed amendment to the city’s fugitive law that would allow for the extradition of suspects to both mainland China and Taiwan on a case-by-case basis.
Xu, speaking at a forum on the implementation and achievements of one country, two systems, said Beijing was not trying to strip away any power from Hong Kong when it emphasised China’s constitution applied to the city.
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“Some people said it was Beijing attempting to resume Hong Kong’s power. This is not true because we settled everything years ago,” Xu, president of semi-official think tank The Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, told the forum at the convention centre in Wan Chai.
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