Kenny G at pains to explain Hong Kong protest venue visit after drawing Beijing's ire

A day after musician Kenny G paid a surprise visit to one of the venues of Hong Kong pro-democracy protests and took a selfie, he has now gone on record to say that he is not a foreign agitator trying to defy China's authority.

Pleading ignorance, the smooth jazz saxophonist deleted the selfie after Chinese Foreign Ministry, who has accused "outside agents" of fuelling the protests in the past, declared that Kenny G was participating in an "illegal activity," reported the CNN.

The musician wrote on social media that he was not supporting the demonstrators and his "impromptu visit" was just part of an "innocent walk" around Hong Kong. He added that he knew nothing about the situation.

His surprise visit had excited the protesters who have been occupying the streets of the city to protest against Beijing's decision to vet candidates in the 2017 Hong Kong elections.

However, his statement was met with fierce backlash from protesters who accused him of protecting his own capitalistic income and his brand while Hong Kong fights for its life.

Kenny G is hugely popular in China. One of his tunes, "Going Home," is played in shopping malls and train stations at closing time and is also a popular ringtone and a door chime.