HKSAR Government deeply regrets FCC luncheon talk

     The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) deeply regrets the hosting of a luncheon talk today (August 14) by the Foreign Correspondents' Club (FCC) for an invited speaker to advocate the independence of Hong Kong.
      
     A Government spokesman said, "It is totally inappropriate and unacceptable for any person to openly promote and advocate the independence of Hong Kong.
      
     "As such, it is also totally inappropriate and unacceptable for any organisation to provide a public platform to espouse such views.
      
     "The Basic Law clearly stipulates that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China. Advocating Hong Kong's independence is a blatant violation of the Basic Law and a direct affront to the national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of the People's Republic of China.
      
     "Such advocacy runs counter to the successful implementation of 'one country, two systems' and undermines the HKSAR's constitutional and legal foundations as enshrined in the Basic Law."
      
     The spokesman said the HKSAR Government attaches great importance to freedom of the press and freedom of speech, which underpin the success of Hong Kong as an open, vibrant, pluralistic and international city. These are protected by the Basic Law. But such freedoms are not absolute and have to be exercised in accordance with the law.
      
     "We have continuously supported the FCC's work over the decades. However, providing a public platform for a speaker to openly advocate independence completely disregards Hong Kong's constitutional duty to uphold national sovereignty. It is totally unacceptable and deeply regrettable."