Pelosi's visit to Taiwan draws flak from HK leaders

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and leading officials of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government on Tuesday evening reprimanded the visit to Taiwan by the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Nancy Pelosi, saying the trip "wantonly tramples on the one-China principle" and "greatly threatens the peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits".

In separate statements, they expressed full support and cooperation to the central government's resolute determination in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"Pelosi's visit is tantamount to encouraging 'Taiwan independence' and openly challenges the one-China principle, undermining the stability in the Taiwan Straits. Such a move, betting on and in contempt for the well-being of more than 20 million people in Taiwan, is extremely selfish," Lee said.

He stressed that the HKSAR government firmly opposes any external forces interfering in the internal affairs of China and will fully support and facilitate all necessary measures by the central government to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Saying Pelosi's wanton visit to Taiwan has trampled on the one-China principle, Chief Secretary for Administration Chan Kwok-ki said despite the US' claim about upholding all countries' sovereignty and territorial integrity, the US has been backtracking on the Taiwan question.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said, in a separate statement, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's sacred territory. The country's stand on the Taiwan question has long been very clear: the Taiwan question is China's internal affairs, which subjects to no interference by any outside forces.

Chan noted that the United States is at present faced with high inflation, severe racial discrimination and hostilities, and huge wealth inequality. The fact that the United States government and politicians are not focusing on dealing with their internal problems but rather seek to play up the Taiwan question is an attempt to divert attention, and a heinous move to cover their acute conflicts at home, he added.

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok said, in a statement, he is outraged by Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, which constitutes an attempt to obstruct the great reunification of the motherland.

The city's Security Bureau also expressed its objection, saying the arbitrary and unreasonable bullying act by Pelosi has seriously violated international norms and grossly interfered in China's internal affairs.

It is the common responsibility of all the people of China, including the people of Hong Kong, to safeguard the sovereignty, unification and territorial integrity of the People's Republic of China. The HKSAR government strongly condemns any acts that challenge the sovereignty, unification and territorial integrity of the country, the bureau said in its statement.