China media: Hong Kong 'interference'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-29058362

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Papers warn of "foreign interference" in Hong Kong's electoral affairs, after comments by former governor Chris Patten.

On Sunday, the Chinese government ruled out open nomination of candidates for the Hong Kong chief executive election in 2017.

The move sparked anger among pro-democracy groups and activists who accuse Beijing of breaking its promise to allow Hong Kong to choose its leader directly.

Chris Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong, urged the UK government in an article to assume "moral responsibilities" over what happens in the former colony.

Commenting on the "interference" from British politicians, the Global Times warns the UK to "cease meddling in Hong Kong" and to take note that China is "now the second-largest economy in the world".

"Downing Street might have attempted to say something but it has so far refrained. UK Prime Minister David Cameron has to ponder the consequences of doing so," says the paper, adding that the UK's impact on Hong Kong is almost "zero".

The same editorial in the Chinese edition of the paper adds that Chris Patten was appointed by the Queen and not elected by the people in Hong Kong.

"There wasn't even an election, not even a nomination committee," it reminds readers.

Noting that Mr Patten's article has drawn "some support", another strongly worded article in the paper's Chinese edition criticises "some people in Hong Kong" for "holding on" to the former colonial days.

"Only those who were used to being a slave will still keep Chris Patten in fond memory," remarks the paper.

An article in the Haiwai net lashes out at foreign media for "having ulterior motives" to "complicate Hong Kong's situation and interfere in China's internal affairs".

"No country is allowed to interfere in another's affairs, this is the bottom line of the central government, which is also the real international standard," says the article.

Kuomintang nationalists

Moving on to other news, state media highlight Kuomintang nationalists' contributions during the second Sino-Japanese war.

Chinese top leaders attended the first commemorative ceremony on Wednesday to mark China's "victory in its war against Japanese aggression (1937-1945)".

This was also the first time Chinese officials honoured officers and generals from the Kuomintang fighters, according to local media reports.

Japanese forces invaded northern China in 1931. A wider war between the two countries began in 1937 and ended with Japan's surrender in August 1945, days after the US dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The Kuomintang and Communists were caught in a civil war but formed a coalition against the Japanese during the invasion. The civil war, however, resumed with Japan's defeat and after years of conflict, the nationalists fled to Taiwan and set up a government there.

Papers and experts welcome the central government's "openness" and hope for more "common grounds" between the Communist Party and the Kuomintang over war history.

"Regardless of which political parties the war heroes were from, they all are Chinese," says a historian.

State-run Xinhua News Agency observes that the central government now "evaluates the war contributions of Kuomintang more objectively".

"According to public opinion, the listing of the Kuomintang fighters shows that political struggles between parties have now given way to ethnic interest, which also reflects a broader mindset of the Communist Party of China," says the agency.

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