Fri. Mar 29th, 2024
Hong Kong ProtestsPro-democratic protesters clash riot police

London, July 4: The United Kingdom (UK) has on Wednesday summoned Chinese diplomat Liu Xiaoming amidst a rising diplomatic row between the two nations over a recent mass protest in Hong Kong against a controversial extradition bill that would permit the city’s suspects to be sent to mainland China for court prosecution.

Recently, Liu has condemned British stance over the mass anti-extradition bill marches in Hong Kong. The diplomatic turmoil between the two nations on the issue began on Tuesday shortly after the British foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt has urged the Chinese government of “serious consequences” if they violated deals which had been inked in 1997 Hong Kong handover to Chinese rule, according to Sputnik news reports.

According to ANI news reports, Hunt on Tuesday said, “Hong Kong is part of China and we have to accept that,” adding, “But the freedoms in Hong Kong are enshrined in a joint declaration,” inked with its ex-colonial power, Britain.

Message to Chinese govt: good relations between countries are based on mutual respect and honouring the legally binding agreements between them. That is the best way to preserve the great relationship between the UK and China

Later, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang slammed Hunt’s remarks, stating the latter appeared to be “fantasizing the faded glory of British colonialism” and presents the “bad habit of gesticulating while looking down on other countries’ affairs”.

Afterwards, Hunt went on to appreciate Hong Kong protesters who have stormed the territory’s parliament premise on the handover anniversary on July 1.

In a tweet, Hunt wrote, “Away from campaigning want to stress UK support for Hong Kon and its freedom in UNWAVERING on this anniversary day. No violence is acceptable but HK people MUST preserve right to peaceful protest exercised within the law, as hundreds of thousands of brace people showed today.”

Dismissing Hunt’s tweet remarks, Shuang issued an official statement urging Britain to “reflect upon its erroneous words and deeds and stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China’s domestic affairs in any form”.

 

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