HONG KONG (Reuters) -- Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa gave reassurances about the territory's press freedom Monday after accusations China was trying to stifle the media.
Concerns over press freedom have risen in Hong Kong after a Beijing official said last week journalists should not report speeches and views advocating Taiwan's independence.Tung also warned that any move by Taiwan toward independence could hurt the economies in Greater China.
"In reality, Hong Kong's press freedom, freedom of speech, freedom of publication, are protected by the Basic Law," Tung told reporters, referring to the constitution for post-colonial Hong Kong which reverted to Chinese rule in mid-1997.
"Media can continue to act in accordance to the law of Hong Kong," he said. "Ever since the transition, press freedom has been fully protected and respected in Hong Kong."
"As chief executive, I shall continue to implement the Basic Law which protects the freedom of the press," he added.
Keep Silent
Last week Wang Fengchao, the deputy director of the Chinese government's Liaison Office in Hong Kong, caused outrage when he said journalists should refrain from reporting views that support an independent Taiwan.
"The media should not treat speeches and views which advocate Taiwan's independence as normal news items, nor should they report them like normal cases of reporting the voices of different parties," Wang was quoted in Hong Kong media as saying.
Wang's remarks came after local television ran an interview with Taiwan's Vice-President-elect Annette Lu, in which she was perceived by China as making "separatist" remarks.
Hong Kong journalists and pro-democracy groups have denounced Wang's view, while the U.S. State Department and the British Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Office have also reportedly voiced concern.
Mind your own business
Monday, the Hong Kong Commissioner of China's Foreign Ministry reiterated Wang's comments and urged foreign nations not to interfere with the territory's affairs.
"It is inappropriate and not right to advocate and disseminate views of independence for Taiwan. Hong Kong affairs are the internal matter of China in which no foreign country should interfere," the Commissioner's office said in a statement.
It said Beijing was implementing the "one country, two systems" policy and giving Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy.
"Press freedom in Hong Kong is guaranteed by the Basic Law. And the 'one China' principle should be adhered to in Hong Kong," it said.
Hong Kong, a former British colony, returned to Chinese rule in July 1997 as a highly autonomous special administrative region (SAR) under Beijing's "one country, two systems" blueprint.
Same principle
Beijing intends to apply the same principle to Taiwan upon a reunification with the island. China condemns any advocation of independence of Taiwan, which it regards as a rebel province.
"Taiwan independence will have serious impact on the relations on both sides of the (Taiwan) Strait, on the economies of China and Taiwan, on Sino-U.S. relations, and the situation in Asia-Pacific," Tung said.
"Therefore, it may create an unfavorable factor for Hong Kong's investment environment and the reviving economy.
"The Hong Kong SAR government has consistently supported a reunification of the country according to the principle of 'one China' and 'one country, two systems'," Tung added.
He said he strongly wished to see an early reunification.
"I have every confidence that we will continue to successfully implement the one country two systems (principle), and that in itself is the best way in contributing toward the reunification of our own country," Tung said.