Island told to 'take its hands off' Hong Kong

A Chinese mainland spokesman on Wednesday told Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authority to immediately take its hands off Hong Kong.

"We once again solemnly warn the DPP authority to immediately take its hands off Hong Kong, and stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs, conniving with and sheltering violent radicals and undermining relations across the Taiwan Straits," said Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesman with the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office.

"The DPP authority has played an extremely disgraceful role in the recent situation in Hong Kong," he said.

The DPP has stirred up trouble, fueled the flames and colluded with separatist elements advocating "Hong Kong independence" in an attempt to push Hong Kong into chaos and undermine "one country, two systems", Ma said.

In addition, it has incessantly taken the opportunity to attack and slander the mainland and create an "anti-China" atmosphere so as to gain electoral benefits, he added.

Ignoring the security and wellbeing of the people in Taiwan, the DPP authority invited separatist elements advocating "Hong Kong independence" to visit Taiwan, providing shelter for violent radicals, making Taiwan a "haven sheltering criminals" and opening the door to chaos in Taiwan, Ma said.

Ma stressed that "Hong Kong independence" and "Taiwan independence" are both malignant tumors that seriously harm the interests of the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and those from Hong Kong, as well as the overall interests of the Chinese nation.

"If these two forces are allowed to merge, it will not only be detrimental to Hong Kong, but also to Taiwan," he said.

Separately, Ma confirmed that Lee Meng-chu, an adviser for a township in Taiwan, has been detained by the mainland on suspicion of engaging in criminal activity harmful to national security and is now under investigation.

Taiwan media reported that Lee was detained in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, after visiting Hong Kong.