The following is a letter from Mr. Miao Deyu, Spokesman of the Chinese Embassy in the UK, responding to the Financial Times' editorial on Hong Kong on 2 December 2014.

Sir, The accusations against China in your editorial “The unresolved Hong Kong question for Beijing” (December 2) are unfair. Since Hong Kong’s return, China’s Central Government has earnestly implemented the principles of “one country, two systems”, “Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong” and a high degree of autonomy.

By proceeding with the political reform road map provided for in the Basic Law and in accordance with the relevant decisions by the standing committee of the National People’s Congress on the election of Hong Kong chief executive in 2017, Hong Kong will for the first time in history witness election of its chief executive through one man, one vote.

Yet a small handful of people in Hong Kong have attempted to overturn the framework established under the Basic Law by pushing for the so-called “public nominations” and launching the illegal “Occupy Central” movement. Months of blocking artery streets and putting government buildings under siege are neither “democracy” nor “freedom”. Mainstream public opinion in Hong Kong is opposed to “Occupy Central” and wants to bring it to an end.

As a special administrative region of China, Hong Kong affairs are purely China’s internal affairs. Non-interference in the internal affairs of each other is a basic norm governing state-to-state relations. The UK House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee’s plan to conduct the so-called “inquiry” in Hong Kong is in itself a gross interference in China’s domestic affairs. China has to take necessary measures to uphold its sovereignty and interest.

Miao Deyu

Spokesman, Chinese Embassy in the UK