China slams US hearing on Hong Kong affairs

China has voiced its opposition to the U.S. Congressional hearing over the implementation of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong, saying the hearing constitutes a blatant interference in Beijing's internal affairs.

The U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China conducted a hearing in Washington titled "Will the Hong Kong model survive? An assessment 20 years after the handover."

"The hearing is an overt interference in China's internal affairs as Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China, and we are firmly opposed to any country's interference in Hong Kong affairs in any form," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang.

The commission said that the practice of 'one country, two systems' in Hong Kong has eroded press freedom and judicial independence is threatened.

"The commission disregard the facts and has ulterior motives One country, two systems, Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong and a high degree of autonomy have been earnestly implemented since the return of Hong Kong 20 years ago," Geng said.

In 1980s, negotiations between the United Kingdom and China resulted in the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, which paved way or the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong in 1997. July 1, 2017 marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.