China says 'Five Eyes' should face reality on Hong Kong

BEIJING (AP) — China on Thursday rejected latest attack on its Hong Kong policy by U.S. and several of its allies, saying y “should face up to reality” that former British colony has been returned to China.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian was responding to a statement on Hong Kong issued by U.S., U.K., Australia, Cana and New Zealand, which toger make up an intelligence partnership kwn as Five Eyes.

“ matter if y have five eyes or 10 eyes, if y dare to harm China’s sovereignty, security and development interests, y should beware of ir eyes being poked and blinded,” he said at a daily briefing.

foreign ministers of five nations said that a new Chinese government resolution that led to disqualification of four pro-democracy lawmakers in Hong Kong appears to be “part of a concerted campaign to silence all critical voices.”

joint statement called resolution a breach of China's international obligations and its commitment to grant Hong Kong a high degree of automy and freedom of speech.

Hong Kong, a city of 7.5 million people, was promised automy over local affairs for 50 years after its return to China in 1997.

Zhao said Hong Kong is an inalienable part of China and that public officials must “be loyal to morland. This is a basic political ethic in every country in world, right?”

four disqualified lawmakers were earlier barred from running for reelection because of ir calls for foreign governments to impose sanctions on China and Hong Kong. y h remained in office because elections were postponed for one year.

Three or former pro-democracy lawmakers appeared in court in Hong Kong on Thursday, one day after y were arrested for disrupting legislature during debate on a national anm bill earlier this year.

three were joined by supporters holding up signs with slogans outside West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts.

Eddie Chu, one of three, said he is facing “prosecution from dictatorship” because of ir actions to try to block pass of national anm ordinance. law criminalizes insult and abuse of anm, “March of Volunteers.”