Top diplomat urges US to halt Hong Kong bill

China's top diplomat Yang Jiechi has urged the United States to immediately take measures to prevent the so-called Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act from becoming law and pull its hand out of Hong Kong affairs.

In an interview with Xinhua News Agency released on Tuesday, Yang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, said China has lodged stern representations with the US over the passing of the bill in the US Congress.

The passage of the act, despite repeated stern representations and firm opposition from the Chinese side, is a violent interference in China's internal affairs and seriously breaches international law and basic norms governing international relations.

He emphasized that Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs that allow no interference from foreign forces.

He added that the relevant act has seriously harmed China's interests and severely harmed Hong Kong's prosperity and stability.

Yang said that any attempt by Washington to interfere in China's internal matters and hinder China's development by making use of the Hong Kong situation will not succeed.

Noting that the most pressing task now is to stop violence and restore order in Hong Kong, Yang said Hong Kong will absolutely maintain long-term prosperity and stability with forceful support from the Chinese mainland.

The top diplomat stressed that the Chinese government is resolutely determined to safeguard national sovereignty, security and its development interests, implement the "one country, two systems" policy, and oppose any foreign interference in Hong Kong affairs.