China ‘resolutely opposes’ G7 statement on Hong Kong

China has expressed “resolute opposition” to a joint statement from the Group of Seven (G7) countries that references the current unrest in Hong Kong.

“We express our strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to the statement made by the leaders of the G7 Summit on Hong Kong affairs,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.

“We have repeatedly stressed that Hong Kong’s affairs are purely China’s internal affairs and that no foreign government, organization, or individual has the right to intervene,” he added.

According to the statement, which was issued at the end of the meeting of G7 leaders on Monday, the group “reaffirms the existence and importance of the Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984 on Hong Kong and calls for violence to be avoided.”

Unrest began in Hong Kong in June, when people started taking to the streets to protest a proposed bill that would have allowed suspects to be extradited and stand trial abroad. Even though the government later dropped the bill, the protests have continued.

SS