Countries warned vs backing HK rallyists

Protesters shout slogans outside a flag-raising ceremony where Hong Kong’s embattled leader attended in Hong Kong, Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2014, to mark China’s National Day. Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying attended the flag-raising ceremony Wednesday to mark China’s National Day after refusing to meet pro-democracy demonstrators despite their threats to expand the street protests that have posed the stiffest challenge to Beijing’s authority since China took control of the former British colony in 1997. AP

MANILA, Philippines—China warned against other countries that have expressed support for the Hong Kong pro-democracy protests to stay out of “China’s internal affairs.”

“I’d like to reiterate that Hong Kong is a special administrative region (SAR) of China, and Hong Kong affairs fall entirely within China’s internal affairs,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said in a press conference.

“We urge relevant countries to be prudent in words and deeds, refrain from interfering in Hong Kong’s internal affairs in any way, and do not support the illegal activities such as the ‘Occupy Central’ nor send any wrong signal,” she said in the briefing, the transcript of which was uploaded on the foreign ministry website.

Thousands of protesters have occupied major highways near government buildings in Hong Kong calling on the Beijing government to allow genuine democratic elections to take place in 2017.

Beijing intends to screen the candidates who can run as Chief Executive of the semi-autonomous city.

The United States (US) has expressed support for democracy in Hong Kong after a petition on the White House website gathered almost 200,000 signatures.

“The US supports universal suffrage in Hong Kong in accordance with the Basic Law and we support the aspirations of the Hong Kong people,” it said in a response to the petition.

“We believe that an open society, with the highest possible degree of autonomy and governed by the rule of law, is essential for Hong Kong’s stability and prosperity — indeed this is what has made Hong Kong such a successful and truly global city,” it said.

The White House said that the legitimacy of the Chief Executive will be “greatly enhanced” if the people of Hong Kong are given “a genuine choice of candidates.”

Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou has expressed strong support for the Hong Kong pro-democracy rally in an interview with Al-Jazeera.

Small protests in major cities around the world have expressed support for Hong Kong’s bid for democracy while governments have urged for a peaceful resolution to the demonstrations.

China however called the protests as “illegal” and supported the Hong Kong government in its handling of the demonstrations.

“The central government firmly opposes all illegal acts that undermine the rule of law and sabotage social stability, fully believes and strongly supports Hong Kong SAR government’s handling of the case in accordance with law so as to safeguard social stability of Hong Kong,” Hua said in their briefing.

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