Dow Jones: China Criticizes Britain for Questioning HK's Freedoms

HONG KONG (AP)--China's Foreign Ministry Friday attacked Britain for its "reckless comments" about Hong Kong taking a tougher line on protesters.

"Hong Kong has already returned to China," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "Hong Kong's affairs are purely the internal affairs of China. No other countries have any right to make irresponsible remarks or give reckless comments."

Hong Kong was returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 after 156 years under British rule.

The British Foreign Ministry said earlier in the week that Hong Kong has done mostly well in the five years since it was returned to China under a system dubbed "one country, two systems" that guarantees local autonomy and freedoms unheard of in mainland China.

But Britain noted concerns that Hong Kong was becoming less tolerant of demonstrations, and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said "freedom of assembly and speech must not be compromised."

Hong Kong recently brought criminal charges against three pro-democracy campaigners for staging unauthorized protests. The territory stirred more controversy when it refused to permit a visit by a U.S. citizen, the former Chinese labour camp inmate Harry Wu, who now is an activist.

Meanwhile, 16 followers of the Falun Gong meditation group are being tried for allegedly creating a public obstruction when they peacefully protested outside the Chinese government liaison office here. Falun Gong calls it a trumped-up case to stifle its message.

Local rights activists and opposition politicians say Hong Kong's freedoms are crumbling. [..]

Although Hong Kong is supposed to be governed with a great deal of autonomy, Beijing handles defence and foreign affairs.