Beijing official meets US envoy in Hong Kong, takes stance against ‘recent negative remarks’
- Meeting follows claims from US Consul General Gregory May that Hong Kong’s special status only exists on economic front
Beijing’s top diplomat in Hong Kong met the leading US envoy in the city on Wednesday and hit back at the country’s “recent negative remarks”, after the American official said the “one country, two systems” governing principle only existed on the economic front.
It was the second time in about a week that Cui Jianchun, commissioner of the Chinese foreign ministry’s office in Hong Kong, had hit out at remarks from Gregory May, the United States’ consul general for the city and Macau.
The commissioner’s office issued a statement on Wednesday evening that revealed the meeting had taken place.
“The commissioner … has expressed his solemn position on the recent negative remarks and deeds of the United States over Hong Kong, and urged the US to implement the important consensus reached by the heads of China and the US at the San Francisco meeting together,” the office said.
Last November, Chinese President Xi Jinping and US leader Joe Biden agreed during high-level talks to strengthen dialogue and cooperation in various fields, including narcotics control and artificial intelligence, resume communication between militaries, and boost exchanges in fields such as culture, education and business.
The office said on Wednesday that Cui had introduced the spirit of the third plenary session of the Communist Party’s 20th Central Committee to May during the meeting, with both sides also exchanging views on how to foster dialogue, exchanges and practical cooperation in relevant fields between Hong Kong and the US.
