China on Tuesday rebuked Donald Trump for "gross interference" in Hong Kong's affairs after the US president said protesters who stormed the city's legislature wanted democracy for the financial hub.
Trump weighed in on the protests in Hong Kong on Monday, saying the demonstrators are "looking for democracy" but that "some governments don't want democracy".
"We deplore and strongly oppose the relevant country's gross interference in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular press briefing.
China, he added, warns "the relevant country to speak and act cautiously and stop interfering in Hong Kong's internal affairs in any form".
He also said the United States should "not in any form support those engaged in violence and breaking the law".
The semi-autonomous financial hub has been thrown into crisis by weeks of demonstrations over a bill that would allow extraditions to the Chinese mainland, with the issue becoming a lightning rod for resentment towards Beijing.
On Monday -- the 22nd anniversary of the city's handover to China -- anger spilt over as groups of mostly young, hardline protesters, breached the legislative council.
- 'Blatant challenge' -
Beijing called for a criminal probe into what it dubbed a "blatant challenge" to the "one country, two systems" arrangement that has allowed Hong Kong to have its own laws, granting it special rights including freedom of speech.
The US had said that Trump would discuss Hong Kong when he met Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 in Japan on Saturday, during which the two leaders agreed to a trade-war ceasefire.
Asked whether the two leaders discussed Hong Kong, Geng referred to previous statements about the meeting which did not mention the topic.
"China's position on Hong Kong is consistent and clear and firm and I believe the US knows this very well," he said.
Geng also lashed out at "gross interference" from British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who wrote on Twitter that London's support for "Hong Kong and its freedoms is UNWAVERING" on the anniversary of the handover.
"We are unswerving in our determination to oppose foreign interference. We demand the UK reflect upon the consequences of its mistaken words and deeds and stop interfering in Hong Kong's and China's internal affairs in any form," he said.
Hong Kong grapples with protest aftermath as China demands criminal probe
Hong Kong (AFP) July 2, 2019 - Hong Kong Tuesday grappled with the aftermath of a night of unprecedented anti-government protests which saw parliament ransacked, as Beijing called for a criminal probe into the unparalleled challenge to its authority.
The semi-autonomous financial hub has been thrown into crisis by weeks of demonstrations over a bill that would allow extraditions to the Chinese mainland, with the issue becoming a lightning rod for resentment towards Beijing.
On Monday -- the 22nd anniversary of the city's handover to China -- anger spilt over as groups of mostly young, hardline protesters, breached the legislative council.
They hung the city's colonial-era flag in the debating chamber, scrawled messages such as "Hong Kong is not China" on walls, and defaced the city's seal with spray-paint.
Police charged into the building shortly after midnight to retake control.
The events pose an unprecedented challenge to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and on Tuesday, Beijing wasted no time in asking Hong Kong to investigate the "criminal responsibility of violent offenders" for "serious illegal actions".
It also slammed Donald Trump for interfering in the city's affairs, after the US president said that protesters are "looking for democracy" but "some governments don't want democracy" -- an apparent swipe at Beijing.
Hong Kong has been rocked by massive protests over the past three weeks. The rallies -- including a huge pro-democracy march on Monday -- have been largely peaceful while calling on the city's Beijing-appointed chief executive Carrie Lam to resign.
But they have failed to win concessions, with Lam refusing to permanently shelve the extradition law or step down, and by Monday some hardline protesters appeared to have reached breaking point, and stormed the legislature.
- 'Tyranny and imperial rule' -
Lam -- whose approval ratings are at a record low -- condemned "the extreme use of violence", describing the vandalism as "heartbreaking and shocking".
The legislature was closed Tuesday, as police collected evidence from the debris-strewn building, while workers swept surrounding areas littered with shattered glass, broken umbrellas and hard hats.
Pro-democracy lawmaker Eddie Chu, who was stopped from entering his office, said police told him the building was "a crime scene".
Legislative council president Andrew Leung, whose portrait was among those defaced by protesters, said major meetings were now cancelled until October.
"Our security systems, our fire services, our lifts... need to be tested before we can resume any meetings", the pro-Beijing politician said.
Under the terms of the 1997 handover from British to Chinese rule, Hong Kong enjoys rights and liberties unseen on the mainland. But protesters accuse Beijing of reneging on that deal with the help of unelected leaders.
Activist Joshua Wong, who was the face of the city's 2014 pro-democracy demonstrations, told reporters the protests were a response to "the tyranny... (and) imperial rule of Beijing and the Hong Kong government".
Veteran pro-democracy lawmaker Claudia Mo accused Lam of "trying to shift public opinion by focusing on our young offenders".
"Instead of trying to solve the problems being raised they are trying to solve the problem raisers and that is a very communist tactic", she said.
- 'Gentle hearts' -
Chinese state media have dismissed the protests as "mob violence".
"A zero-tolerance policy is the only remedy for such destructive behaviour", the Global Times daily wrote in an editorial.
Britain's Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt expressed "unwavering" support for Hong Kong's freedoms but urged restraint from protesters.
He, like Trump, was also rebuked by Beijing on Tuesday for "gross interference".
Analysts said the chaotic scenes showing demonstrators tearing down portraits and spraying graffiti signalled a dangerous turn.
"The gestures were meant to provoke the Chinese authorities", said political analyst Joseph Cheng.
"They are gestures of defiance rather than a genuine political action," he said, warning they would likely "be seized upon by Beijing and by the Carrie Lam administration as justification for a crackdown".
The increasingly hardline tactics have divided Hong Kongers.
Brokerage executive Chris Cheung told AFP Monday's protest was "unwise and unnecessary".
"Violence can't change the people's attitude, only reason will," he said.
But clean-up volunteer Blue Wong said she was "angry with the government for pushing the young generation to such a stage".
"I won't criticise or judge the youngsters. Even though their actions are violent, their hearts are gentle", she said.
"They are fighting for a better Hong Kong."
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Thousands rally to support Hong Kong police
Hong Kong (AFP) June 30, 2019
Thousands protested outside Hong Kong's parliament on Sunday - this time to support police as they face mounting criticism over their use of tear gas and rubber bullets. The large crowds, most of them dressed in white or blue, illustrated the ideological fissures now running through the finance hub as it experiences its worst political unrest in a generation. Hong Kong saw two record-breaking rallies earlier this month by protesters opposed to a now postponed plan to approve extradition to main ... read more
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