CHINA DAILY | HONG KONG EDITION Wednesday, July 22, 2020 | 3 TOP NEWS Historical view HK opposition China, Laos camp accused of putting committed to politics above public health By KATHY ZHANG in Hong Kong shared future [email protected] Premier Li discusses ASEAN progress Former head of Hong Kong’s legis- with Lao counterpart via videolink lature Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai has slammed opposition parties for plac- ing politics before public health by By ZHOU JIN ing its core interests and will work holding crowded events despite the [email protected] with China to promote the building COVID-19 pandemic. of a community with a shared future Fan, speaking on Tuesday, said China would like to work with between the two countries. the opposition held public activi- Laos and other relevant countries to Also on Tuesday, State Councilor ties including regular anti-govern- jointly promote the development of and Foreign Minister Wang Yi ment assemblies in early July and China-ASEAN relations as well as co-chaired with Deputy Prime Min- so-called primary polls on July 11 peace, stability and prosperity in the ister and Foreign Minister of Viet- and 12, days before the third wave region, Premier Li Keqiang said on nam Pham Binh Minh, the 12th of the outbreak struck the city. Tuesday. Meeting of the China-Vietnam Fan, also a former Hong Kong In a videoconference with Lao Steering Committee for Bilateral member of the Standing Commit- Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoul- Cooperation via videolink. tee of the National People’s Con- ith, Li called on China and relevant Wang called on the two countries gress, made the remarks in an countries to strive to sign the to manage maritime disputes interview with China Daily, at a Regional Comprehensive Economic through bilateral dialogue, and A child visits the exhibition hall of the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility in Beijing’s Palace Muse­ time when the city’s COVID-19 tal- Partnership this year. work with other ASEAN members um on Tuesday. The museum, also known as the Forbidden City, reopened some indoor exhibition ly has reached 2,019 cases. China would like to work with to prevent external forces from dis- halls after the capital lowered its COVID-19 emergency response from level II to III on Monday. The opposition those countries to successfully host turbing and damaging stability in JIANG DONG / CHINA DAILY camp set up 251 poll- East Asian leaders’ meetings this the South China Sea region. ing stations across year, the Year of ASEAN-China Digi- This is the second time Wang has the city during the tal Economic Cooperation, Li said. discussed the South China Sea issue two-day “primary ASEAN became China’s biggest with relevant countries after United election”, and accord- trading partner in the first half of States Secretary of State Mike Pom- ing to them, more this year, accounting for 14.7 percent peo said last week that most of Chi- UK rebuked for interference in HKSAR Rita Fan than 600,000 voters of the nation’s total foreign trade na’s claims in the area were Hsu Lai-tai cast their ballots. volume, despite the impact of the “completely unlawful”. Wang spoke By MO JINGXI embassy spokesperson said the UK “The report is groundless. It’s It’s dangerous to novel coronavirus. with his Philippine counterpart on [email protected] had once again contravened inter- maliciously fabricated fake news,” call people to line up Noting China and Laos are the July 14. national law and the basic norms Wang said, noting that the WSJ and cast their ballots without any co-chairs of Lancang-Mekong Coop- China’s policy in the South China China is firmly opposed to the governing international relations, report which cited so called people special precautions to prevent eration, Li said the virtual meeting Sea remains unchanged, Wang said. United Kingdom’s interference and blatantly interfered in China’s familiar with the matter was cross-infection, Fan said. is to enhance bilateral coordination He accused the US of making in its internal affairs and will internal affairs in an attempt to aimed to sow discord between Chi- “The overall impression I got and make preparations for the third inflammatory remarks on the South take countermeasures, Foreign disrupt the implementation of the na and the EU. from the ‘pre­election’ is that the LMC leaders’ meeting, which was China Sea issue and continuously Ministry spokesman Wang Wen- National Security Law for Hong Wang reiterated that China opposition camp cares more about supposed to be held earlier this year sending warships and aircraft to the bin said on Tuesday after the UK Kong SAR and undermine the takes an open attitude toward the their political gains than the but postponed due to COVID-19. region to flex muscle, saying its pur- announced it will suspend its city’s prosperity and stability. participation of telecommunica- health of their supporters,” Fan The meeting also aims to commu- pose is to stir up chaos in the area to extradition treaty with Hong “China urges the UK side to tions companies from all countries, said. nicate the expansion of regional and undermine unity among regional Kong. immediately stop interfering in including European firms such as With the Legislative Council trade connectivity, and send out a countries and obstruct the “China reserves the right to Hong Kong affairs, which are Chi- Nokia and Ericsson, regarding 5G election, scheduled for Sept 6, positive signal on mutually benefi- prospects for regional development. react,” Wang told reporters at a na’s internal affairs, in any form. cooperation in the Chinese market. drawing closer, Fan also suggested cial cooperation and a joint response He warned countries in the region regular news briefing in Beijing. The UK will bear the consequen- According to Wang, the above- the government consider postpon- to common challenges, he said. to remain vigilant to US moves. The spokesman stressed that the ces if it insists on going down the mentioned companies have already ing the election in view of the wor- The premier stressed that China Vietnam is willing to work with affairs of the Hong Kong Special wrong road,” the statement said. won bids on some Chinese projects. sening epidemic. is willing to continue to cooperate China to safeguard peace and stabil- Administrative Region are China’s At Tuesday’s media briefing, “We also hope European coun- with Laos in the construction of the ity in the South China Sea and internal affairs that allow no inter- Wang also refuted a Wall Street tries will provide a fair, just, open China-Laos Economic Corridor and advance bilateral maritime coopera- ference from any foreign country, Journal report that said China is and non-discriminatory business other major projects, so as to help tion and common development, and he urged the UK to give up its considering retaliating against environment for Chinese compa- The overall the country to improve sustainable Minh said. fantasies of continuing colonial telecoms equipment makers Nok- nies,” he said. development capabilities and push It conforms with the interests of influence in the territory and ia and Ericsson if the European impression I got from forward bilateral ties. both countries, and is the common immediately correct its mistakes. Union follows the United States Inside the ‘pre­election’ is Thongloun said that Laos always wish of nations within and outside In a statement released by the and the UK in banning Huawei supports China on issues concern- the region, he added. Chinese embassy in the UK, the from 5G networks. Editorial, page 10 that the opposition camp cares more Taking about their political Suspension of extradition treaty called gains than the health flight of their supporter.” A night heron, a politically driven and legally untenable Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai, species under former head of Hong Kong’s leg­ state protection, islature is released back By GANG WEN in Hong Kong lead to the transfer of suspects to into the wild at [email protected] the mainland. Such bias has the Miyun Res- already been exploited during the “This is not a suitable time for ervoir in Beijing The Hong Kong government The decision shines “Extradition Bill Incident” last the Legislative Council election. on Tuesday. and a local legal pundit said the a spotlight on the real year and causes anxiety and panic For the election candidates, they WANG JING / CHINA United Kingdom’s suspension of among the public of Hong Kong, need to campaign in the streets DAILY its extradition agreement with the possibility that the he said. and reach out to the voters, but special administrative region is a UK will become a Tong also pointed out that the that will result in a lot of people politically driven move that will haven for fugitives suspension of the extradition pact getting together and will pose a allow criminals to evade justice. makes no sense legally because very huge health risk. The govern- who led the Frugal Four opposition, In a statement issued on Tues- wanted by Hong the UK government doesn’t need ment needs to consider and sort Deal: Italy, called the deal “a good package that day, a government spokesman Kong who are trying to fear that the extradition treaty out a legal basis to postpone the safeguards Dutch interests and that said the UK’s unilateral decision will be abused. election,” she said, echoing the call will make Europe stronger and more that uses the new National Securi- to escape legal For one thing, in transfer pro- of several other pro-establishment Spain to be resilient”.