Source: Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Cyprus
It is Chris Patten who should “step back from the brink” on the issue of Hong Kong
Response by Ambassador Huang Xingyuan to Chris Patten’s stigmatization of Chinese leader
As a loyal reader of the Cyprus Mail, I would like to make a few comments on a recent Reuters report quoted in the Cyprus Mail.
On June 1, Cyprus Mail quoted the Reuters report on Chris Patten, ex-colonial British Governor of Hong Kong, in which Patten made irresponsible remarks on the Hong Kong issue and attacked the Chinese leader. We know that the British colonial rule resulted in divisions in many countries and regions worldwide, some of which still linger on today. The Palestinian-Israeli and India-Pakistan issues are still suffering from past wounds that led to new conflicts. The British modus operandi of Divide-and-Conquer is still felt in Cyprus. As someone who has taken full advantage of a Hong Kong divided from China, Chris Patten has never let go of his grudges towards the return of Hong Kong to China. When Hong Kong is in trouble, he jumps up and down. When Hong Kong is not in trouble, he tries to make one out of nothing. His statements in Reuters is simply a new manifestation of his “old illness coming back”.
Cyprus is a country that has long suffered from division. This year marks the 60th anniversary of independence of Cyprus. We thank the Cypriot government and people for their consistent support for China’s efforts in safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity and opposing separatism, violence and terror. China has also shown firm support for Cyprus’ efforts and struggles for national reunification and safeguarding sovereignty. On the issue of maintaining national security and opposing separatist forces and foreign interference, China and Cyprus have similar pursuits and confront similar challenges.
Just as there is only one Cyprus in the world, Hong Kong is China’s Hong Kong. China does not allow Huang Zhifeng and his gangs to promulgate violence, terror and secession in Hong Kong backed by external support, nor does China allow Chris Patten and his followers to continue to interfere in China’s internal affairs and support the unlawful acts by destabilizing elements behind the Hong Kong chaos. The Hong Kong national security law was precisely adopted to frustrate this small group of moles who “want to mess up Hong Kong” and a bunch of narrow-minded burglars who “want to stop the rise of China”.The decision of China’s National People’s Congress to adopt the Hong Kong national security law has been widely supported by the Government and people of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Chinese people, and people around the world with a conscious and just mind.
If such a law for safety protection of the city, which is quite common in countries worldwide and a long-needed imperative can cause extreme discomfort and rage from the “moles” and “burglars”, I have no idea how the so-called democracy, human rights, and rule of law are to be guaranteed. If some countries and some people are still obsessed with the colonial psyche and bad habits of interfering in other countries’ internal affairs, and feel sympathetic towards violence or even threaten sanctions against Hong Kong, then the world is bound for prolonging turmoil. Don’t do unto others what you don’t want done unto you- the United States has serious lesson learnt on this. The Chinese government is firm in its determination to safeguard China’s sovereignty, security and development interests, to implement the principle of “one country, two systems” and to oppose any external interference in Hong Kong affairs. We are confident that this just position will receive firm support from the friendly and rational Cypriot government and people.
