Wu Chi-wai Says Beijing Move Will Affect HK's Status

Democratic Party chairman Wu Chi-wai says Hong Kong's status as an international city is under threat following a statement by a top mainland official on how Beijing plans to tighten its control over the SAR.

"It seems to me that it will go further along the line of taking full control of Hong Kong," Wu told journalists after appearing on an RTHK radio programme. "That will affect the status of Hong Kong as being an international city."

On Friday Basic Law Commission director, Shen Chunyao, vaguely outlined a series of sweeping changes that could bring in tightened control over national security and enhance the central government's power to interpret the Basic Law. He made the statement following a four-day-long Communist Party plenum in Beijing, chaired by President Xi Jinping, that ended on Thursday.

Other measures included amending the mechanism to appoint and remove the Chief Executive and the stepping up of patriotic education.

Wu said Hong Kong is not purely an economic city and that there are values here that people treasure, and which place the SAR in the international community.

Priscilla Leung of the pro-establishment Business and Professionals Alliance also appeared on the radio programme. She attended the press stand-up afterwards but left before taking questions.