Canada needs to back off on Hong Kong situation: Mainland official

Canada and its politicians should pull back before it is too late and stop using Hong Kong affairs to grab the public's attention, a mainland official urged on Thursday as Ottawa voiced wrong remarks relating to Hong Kong despite China's opposition.

While delivering a foreign policy speech in Montreal on Wednesday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was reported saying that his government is monitoring the situation in Hong Kong "closely".

Over the weekend, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland released a statement defending the "fundamental right of assembly" for Hong Kong citizens and condemning any violence between protesters and local police in Hong Kong.

Canada has repeatedly made irresponsible remarks on Hong Kong affairs and grossly interfered in China's internal affairs, a spokesperson for the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region said in a statement.

China deplores and firmly opposes the remarks, the spokesperson added.

Erroneous remarks made by Canada have confused the violent crimes with peaceful assembly, ignored efforts by Hong Kong police to punish that violence according to law, and instead underscored the ulterior motives of the so-called parties involved to exercise restraint, the spokesperson said.

The remarks calling white black run counter to the demands of Hong Kong citizens to end the violence and restore order, the spokesperson said, adding that the essence of these statements is to bolster the violent offenders.

Relevant countries and politicians should put themselves in a correct position, and abide by international law and norms governing international relations, the spokesperson added.