- Title: China warns foreign forces against "conniving" in Hong Kong
- Date: 15th August 2019
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (AUGUST 15, 2019) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO THE UK LIU XIAOMING WALKING INTO NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO THE UK LIU XIAOMING SAYING: "No foreign country should interfere in Hong Kong's internal affairs. We urge those foreign forces to respect China's sovereignty and security, immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong's affairs. Stop interfering in China's internal affairs. Stop conniving in violent offences. They should not misjudge the situation and go down the wrong path. Otherwise they will lift the stone only to drop it on their own feet." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO THE UK LIU XIAOMING SAYING: "It is posing a severe challenge to law and order in Hong Kong, threatening the safety of life and property of Hong Kong people, undermining the prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and challenging the principle bottom line of one country, two systems. As a result Hong Kong now faces the gravest situation since its handover. A handful of extreme radicals have been undermining rule of law, social order, and one country, two systems in Hong Kong. But they have taken cover under the so-called pro-democracy movement to hide their real intention, and to whitewash their disruptive actions. This new extremism is both highly deceptive and destructive." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO THE UK LIU XIAOMING SAYING: "Their moves are severe and violent offences, and already show signs of terrorism. The central government of China will never allow a few violent offenders to drag Hong Kong down a dangerous road, a dangerous abyss. We've never allowed anyone to harm the rule of law, and development in Hong Kong. We've never allowed anyone to undermine one country, two systems, at any excuse. Should the situation near Hong Kong deteriorate further into unrest, uncontrollable for the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the central government would not sit on its hands and watch. We have enough solutions and enough power within the limits of basic law to quell any unrest swiftly." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO THE UK LIU XIAOMING SAYING: "I think the Hong Kong situation is at a very critical moment. But we have full trust and confidence in Chief Executive (Carrie Lam) and her administration to handle the situation and to bring this to an end in an orderly way." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO THE UK LIU XIAOMING SAYING: "So it's a near, we call it a symbol, symbolism, a symptom of a terrorist, and a near terrorist. I would call it, it's a newer extremist. If it goes further, it might become a newer terrorist or terrorist action. If it becomes a terrorist action, I still hope that the Hong Kong authority, Hong Kong government, and the Hong Kong police can handle this situation. So what I'm saying if the situation developed, deteriorating, into unrest uncontrollable to the Hong Kong government then the central government certainly will not sit by." SCREEN / LIU XIAOMING SPEAKING AT NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 29th August 2019 11:57
- Keywords: Hong Kong protest China China Ambassador to UK
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001ASBX9AF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: China accused unidentified foreign forces on Thursday (August 15) of fomenting violent protests in Hong Kong, warning them that their "conniving" efforts had been noticed and that they would end up damaging themselves.
"Foreign forces must stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs," Chinese Ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming told reporters in London. "Stop conniving in violent offenses. They should not misjudge the situation and go down the wrong path otherwise they will lift the stone only to drop it on their own feet."
The ambassador also said China will use its power to quell Hong Kong protests if the situation deteriorates further after some protesters have shown signs of terrorism.
"Should the situation in Hong Kong deteriorate further ... the central government will not sit on its hands and watch," Liu told reporters.
He added: "the central government of China will never allow a few violent offenders to drag Hong Kong down a dangerous road, down a dangerous abyss."
Ten weeks of confrontations between police and protesters have plunged Hong Kong into its worst crisis since it reverted from British to Chinese rule in 1997 after being governed by Britain since 1842.
They have also presented the biggest popular challenge to Chinese leader Xi Jinping in his seven years in power.
Liu also accused Western media of being unbalanced in their reporting and of confusing right and wrong.
(Production: Will Russell, Jonathan Shenfield) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
