BBC Radio 4: Ambassador, you painted the protesters as “violent” and as “extremists”. Can I ask you whether you would acknowledge that for every “violent” or “extremist protester”, there are many ordinary citizens in Hong Kong, lawyers and civil servants, who are deeply disappointed by what is happening on the Chinese government side, and to support the idea that people having more say in their own administration, and to support the fifth demand of protesters, the universal suffrage? Would you acknowledge that there are many people who are not violent or extremist protesters? Can you remind us and the people of Hong Kong why China finds it so objectionable to give them universal suffrage? If I may ask a second question, does China still regard the Joint Declaration signed with Britain in 1984 as applying and constraining its behavior in Hong Kong?
BBC广播四台记者：第一个问题，你是否承认大多数抗议者并不是“暴力分子”、“极端分子”，而是普通市民？他们有律师，有公务员，他们对中国政府感到很失望，要求享有更多言论自由，支持普选。你能否解释中国政府为何反对普选？第二个问题，中国是否仍然遵守《中英联合声明》？
Ambassador: Evan, I haven’t seen you for quite a while since I last went on your program. Your first question is about the demonstrators. We certainly have acknowledged the difference between the young people and the radical violent offenders. A few radicals do not represent the majority of the demonstrators. The majority of them have been misled. I think Hong Kong media has responsibility and Western media has responsibility. There are some complaints. In any society you have all kinds of complaints. Since Hong Kong’s handover, enormous achievements and progress have been made under “One Country, Two Systems”. But there is still a lot of room for improvement, like how young people would advance their career. There are many problems in Hong Kong economy. Hong Kong economy has depended too much on financial services and real estate, which offers little opportunities to young people. So they have complaints. We understand. The Central Government and SAR Government have tried very hard to address these problems. We have launched the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development project. I don’t know how many of you know this, but I do not have time to elaborate in details. That will give Hong Kong young people more opportunities. If you compare Hong Kong with Shenzhen across the river, it’s quite a contrast. In 30 years’ time, Shenzhen has been transformed into a dynamic city full of vigor, many young people, a lot of high-tech and new technology companies like Huawei, Tencent, Dajiang, many top world-class companies. What world-class high-tech companies can you find in Hong Kong? To address these problems, we have to focus on development. Demonstrations offer no solution. Chaotic situations would only make young people suffer more. We will certainly address the concerns of the young people. We certainly understand the difference between the young people who have been misled, who have been led astray as I said, and those radical violent offenders.
刘大使：埃文，距离上次接受你采访已经很长时间了，很高兴再次见到你。你第一个问题是关于示威者。我们当然会区分普通示威者和极端暴力犯罪分子。一小撮极端暴力分子不能代表大多数游行示威者，许多参加示威的人是被蒙蔽的，一些香港和西方媒体误导了民众。每个社会都有自己的问题。香港回归中国以来，取得巨大发展成就，“一国两制”取得巨大成功，但仍有许多需要改进的地方，比如年轻人的发展问题。香港经济存在一些问题，过于倚重金融服务业和房地产业，年轻人上升通道有限，他们有抱怨，我们都理解。中央政府和特区政府非常重视这些问题，正采取切实措施予以解决。粤港澳大湾区建设将给年轻人带来更多发展机会。如果把香港和一河之隔的深圳做一个比较，就会发现很大差别。深圳在30年间从一个小渔村发展成为一个充满生机和活力的大都市，成为年轻人创业之地，拥有诸如华为、腾讯、大疆等众多高新科技公司。在香港却没有一家像这样的世界一流科技企业。特区政府正在想办法解决这些问题。我们应注重发展问题，但抗议示威不是解决问题之道，社会混乱只会让年轻人蒙受更多损失。我们关注年轻人的发展，会将受蒙蔽而走上歧途的年轻人与少数极端暴力犯罪分子区分开来。
关于《联合声明》，人们经常把“一国两制”和《联合声明》混为一谈。《联合声明》已经完成了历史使命，即将香港归还中国以及在1984至1997的13年间确保香港在回归前平稳过渡。《联合声明》提到“一国两制”，但“一国两制”是中国政府单方面的政策宣示，写入《基本法》。因此，我们说中方坚定遵守《基本法》和“一国两制”50年不变，而不是遵守《联合声明》50年不变。
Your second question is about the Joint Declaration. I think people often confuse “One Country, Two Systems” with the Joint Declaration. Joint Declaration has completed its mission. Its main mission was to ensure a smooth handover of Hong Kong from UK to China. And it was also its mission to ensure a 13-year smooth transition period between 1984, when China and UK agreed on the handover and 1997. And that was its main mission. Yes, the Joint Declaration mentioned “One Country, Two Systems”. But that is a national policy unilaterally announced by the Chinese Government. It is incorporated in the Basic Law of Hong Kong. So when we say China is committed to the Basic Law and “One Country, Two Systems” for 50 years, we are not saying we are committed to the Joint Declaration for 50 years.
About universal suffrage, the Central Government is committed to universal suffrage. We believe this is the final aim of political reform in Hong Kong. But it has to proceed in an orderly way and it has to suit the conditions of Hong Kong. If it had not been for the opposition in Hong Kong in 2015, the Legislative Council would have passed a law on universal suffrage. They were not happy with this law, so they blocked it. They killed this law and postponed the process. There are so many things that are not known by the Western public. The government is fully committed to universal suffrage. But it has to be carried out in an orderly and gradual way in accordance with law.
关于普选，中央政府支持香港实行普选，这是香港政制改革的终极目标。但改革必须有序推进，必须符合香港的实际情况，依法循序渐进地推进。2015年，如果不是反对派的抵制，香港立法会就已经通过关于普选的立法了，结果实行普选的进程被迫推迟。西方普通民众对此了解甚少。
BBC Diplomatic Correspondent: You talked about there being no place for foreign interference in China’s internal affairs. Does that mean the present British government is interfering in the internal affairs when it calls for dialogue to end the crisis in Hong Kong? Is one of the solutions that you would examine carefully to find a way through this to move beyond mere suspension of the extradition law? Would you be prepared to move to full withdrawal, one of the basic points raised by the protesters? My second question is about the potential use of force. You said China will use whatever means necessary to quell the protests
BBC外事记者：第一个问题，你提到中国内部事务不容外国干涉，如果英国政府要求就香港面临的危机进行对话，是外国干涉吗？关于“修例”，除了搁置还有其他解决办法吗？中方是否准备撤销“修例”？第二个问题，你提到中国将不惜一切代价平息抗议活动……
Ambassador: Not the protest. To quell the unrest.
刘大使：不是抗议，是动乱。
BBC Diplomatic correspondent: If you were to use the Chinese army in Hong Kong, do you accept that it would have the effect of destroying the “two systems” and “Hong Kong’s autonomy”, and do great damage to China because it will suffer economically and in trade as a result?
BBC外事记者：如果派出军队，是否意味着“一国两制”、香港“高度自治”遭到破坏？会对香港经济造成巨大伤害吗？
Ambassador: I think you asked three questions and I am trying to remember them all. Maybe the last question first. As I said, we have enough solutions and enough power to put this to an end swiftly. By doing this, we are exactly defending “One Country, Two Systems”. Some of the radical forces call for independence of Hong Kong. They want to use Hong Kong to infiltrate into the mainland, to interrupt the socialist system in the mainland. So in both ways, they undermine “One Country, Two Systems”. When we talk about “One Country, Two Systems”, people have to be aware that it’s a complete whole. “One country” means that Hong Kong is part of China and China has sovereignty over Hong Kong. “One country” is the precondition for “two systems”. Without “one country”, there will be no “two systems”. So, the two are one complete whole. We can’t emphasize one at the expense of the other. I think what China is going to do – to put the situation under control – is exactly for “One Country, Two Systems”.
刘大使：你实际上是提了三个问题，我从最后一个问题回答。我说过，我们有足够多的办法和足够强大的力量结束香港事态。我们这样做才是真正在捍卫“一国两制”。一些极端势力要求“香港独立”，他们企图利用香港向内地渗透，破坏内地的社会主义制度，这是在破坏“一国两制”。我们应该知道，“一国”的意思是香港是中国的一部分，中国对香港拥有主权。“一国”是“两制”的前提，没有“一国”，“两制”就无从谈起，二者是有机统一的整体，不能只强调一个，削弱另一个。中国要做的正是为了维护“一国两制”。
About the telephone conversation, as I said, we are open to discussions on Hong Kong. But the important thing is that you can’t use telephone conversation to exert pressure on the SAR Government. For instance, you are saying that you are concerned about the police’s excessive use of force and you condemn the violence on both sides. That is not fair. You can’t give a 50-50. You confuse right and wrong. If you accuse the right things, you certainly support the wrong things. The important thing is the nature of the conversation, whether it is an intervention or not. British politicians are visiting Hong Kong all the time. We show no objection to them. But if you make a comment to interfere in the judicial independence of Hong Kong, you are trying to obstruct it. Just like some politicians said before that one cannot punish those radicals and violent offenders. It just obstructs the legal system in Hong Kong. That cannot be accepted at all.
关于英国外交大臣打电话干涉香港内部事务，这不是一般的打电话讨论问题，而是用打电话向特区政府施压。英方说对警察使用暴力表示关切，谴责双方的暴力，这种“各打五十大板”的做法是混淆是非。指责正确的，就是支持错误的。这里的关键是电话谈话内容是不是干涉内政。英国政要经常访问香港，我们对此不持异议。但如果英方言论是在干预香港司法独立，比如之前一些政客要求香港特区政府“不能惩罚暴力违法者”，这就是干扰破坏香港的司法独立，是完全不能接受的。
We expressed our concerns about some of the comments by British politicians. I really hope that they change their mindset and have a big picture in mind about the prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and broad interests of the UK. A prosperous and stable Hong Kong is really in the interest of the UK, not only in the interest of Hong Kong and China.
我们已经对英国政客的言论表达了关切。英方要改变思维方式，要有大局观，香港保持稳定和繁荣不仅有利于香港和中国内地，也符合英国的利益。
About the withdrawal of the bill. You know the bill has been suspended by the SAR Government. Whether it will be withdrawn is up to the Hong Kong SAR Government to decide. The Chief Executive promised to have further communication and discussions with the public and various sectors in Hong Kong. From the very beginning in my first press conference, I said this is a good bill. It serves the interest of Hong Kong. It will make Hong Kong a safe “haven of justice” rather than a safe “haven of fugitives”. I think the intension is to improve the legal system of Hong Kong but it was not well understood. So it might take time for the SAR Government to explain their position, to convince the public that it is in Hong Kong’s interest to pass this bill.
关于“修例”问题，“修例”已经暂缓，下一步将由香港特区政府来决定，林郑特首已承诺要与社会各界进行更多沟通和讨论。我在上次记者会上说过，这是一个好条例，完善香港的法律制度，符合香港的利益，将香港变为“正义天堂”而非“避罪天堂”。特区政府需要时间解释“修例”符合香港利益，从而说服香港公众，争取公众理解。
BBC News Night: In the video, you showed a journalist at the airport surrounded by protesters. You didn’t show the other guy surrounded by protesters who turned out to be a law enforcement official from Shenzhen not wearing uniform. How many other such mainland law enforcement officials are currently operating in Hong Kong?
BBC记者：刚才的短片包含一名记者在香港机场被抗议者围攻的画面。另外一个人也在机场受到抗议者围攻，但他是来自深圳的便衣警察。请问目前有多少内地警务人员在香港活动？
Ambassador: Your information is not what I know. Yesterday, an ordinary traveler was round up by the rioters at the airport. He was from Shenzhen and he came to the airport to see off a friend. The other one was a journalist from China, who was tied up. Some people regarded him as a police, but he turned out to be a journalist who has a name, a registered journalist.
刘大使：我了解的情况是，昨天一个深圳居民在机场为他的朋友送行，遭到了暴乱分子的围攻。另一个遭围攻的是中国内地记者，有人声称他是个警察，把他绑起来，但其实他是个有名、有姓、有注册的记者。
CGTN: My first question is that, as the violence escalates, the Hong Kong police response would escalate inevitably. We all know what Hong Kong police have experienced these days? In other countries, it equals to aggravated assault which will be dealt with seriously. But why they are still the target of blames in some of the media, in most of the Western media, even when they are so restrained? My second question is that yesterday, some British companies were warned to evaluate the risks to investment in Hong Kong. More than 28 countries have been noted to issue different levels of warnings to travelers to Hong Kong. Analysts say that currently this is a kind of the turning point for Hong Kong’s economy. So what is your view?
CGTN记者：我的第一个问题是，随着抗议者的暴力行为升级，香港警方的应对措施也不可避免地升级。近日来，香港警队遭遇袭击，如果放在其他地方，同样的袭警行为会受到严厉处理。为什么媒体，特别是西方媒体仍然严厉批评香港警队？第二个问题，昨天英国企业得到警告，要评估香港目前存在的投资风险，而且有28个国家已经针对香港发出了不同程度的旅行警告，这是否意味着香港经济面临一个转折点？
Ambassador: I think you are absolutely right in talking about the behavior of Hong Kong police. I think they exercise their duty with great restraint, more so than in many other countries. They are very professional and have won praise from many countries, including the US, Canada, France. You know, if things like this happen in the Western countries, the police would deal with them with much more force. That reminds me of something just a few months ago, in June. When the Extinction Rebellion applied to put up a demonstration in Heathrow Airport, they were warned by the British police that those involved would face a life sentence and urged to reconsider. We’ve all watched how the British police handled the riot in London. And I don’t need to remind you of what kind of force they used.
刘大使：关于香港警察的履职表现，我认为你说得很对，他们展现了极大的克制，超过很多其他国家的警察。他们非常专业，赢得包括美国、加拿大、法国等许多国家同行的钦佩。短片中看到的情况，如果发生在西方国家，警方处理时会使用更多强制手段，但香港警队保持了克制。这让我想起不久前的6月，英国环保组织申请在希思罗机场抗议，警方警告其如果这么做将面临终身监禁，敦促其三思而行。我们也都知道英国警方是如何处理伦敦骚乱的，使用了何等强制手段。
On the Hong Kong economy. Yes, it suffered. What is happening in Hong Kong really damaged the international image and reputation of Hong Kong. It’s very sad. Hong Kong is a very safe place. Its rule of law rating is very high. In terms of Project of Justice index, it’s even three steps higher than the United States last year. It ranked 16th while the United States ranked 19th. I’m talking about law and order, not safety. On safety, Hong Kong will be much safer than the other Western cities. Of course, we all read that Hang Seng stock falls 9% and Hong Kong dollar falls. Many things fall. It’s very sad. I think people, as I said in my opening remarks, should treasure the hard-won development of Hong Kong. I do hope common sense will prevail in Hong Kong. I just heard many statements yesterday by the business leaders. They’ve kept quiet for some time, but now they spoke out. They realized what kind of damage this chaos in Hong Kong will do to the city, to the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.
香港经济的确受到冲击，香港的国际形象和声誉受到损害，令人痛心。香港是个非常安全的城市，法治指数很高，根据2018年世界正义工程法治指数排名，香港排名16，领先美国3位，美国排名19。这还只是法治指数，在安全指数方面，香港与西方城市相比更是遥遥领先。的确，我们都看到恒生指数下跌9%，港元汇率等也下滑了，非常令人痛心。正如我在开场白中所说，我认为香港民众应当珍惜来之不易的发展成果，我希望并期待香港回归理性。昨天我也听到一些来自香港工商界的声音，他们沉默了一段时间，但现在开始发声了，他们认识到这样的动乱将给香港这座城市、给香港的繁荣稳定造成多么大的损害。
路透社记者：感谢大使给我第二次提问机会。你刚才回答BBC记者提问时提到，香港特区政府有权决定是否暂缓或撤销“修例”。可否明确一下，如果林郑月娥特首及其领导的香港特区政府决定撤销“修例”，中国中央政府会否同意？
Reuters: Thank you for taking a second question. Earlier when my colleague from the BBC asked about the extradition bill, you said it’s up to the Hong Kong SAR Government to decide whether it will be withdrawn or not. And you immediately added that you think it a good bill and it wasn’t fully explained and should be explained further. Just to be completely clear, if Carrie Lam and the Hong Kong SAR Government decided to withdraw the bill fully, would the Central Government of China allow them to do so?
Ambassador: At the very beginning, many people thought that this move is under the order or instruction from the Central Government. That was not true. This initiative is completely the decision of the Hong Kong administration. Chief Executive Carrie Lam spoke on many occasions that she received no order or instruction from the Central Government to launch this process. She decided to suspend it and we showed understanding, respect and support. So I hope you will keep in mind the three words I gave you: understanding, respect and support. And I think that we will continue to do this along the road.
刘大使：很多人以为“修例”是特区政府按中央政府指令或授意所为，实际情况不是这样。“修例”完全是由特区政府发起的，林郑特首本人也在多个场合表示，她从未收到中央政府任何相关“指令”。香港特区政府已决定暂缓“修例”，我们对此表示尊重、理解和支持，希望英国媒体注意我用的这三个词。我认为中国中央政府将继续这么做。
Russia Today: As you know the trade war with the US is continuing and Donald Trump has sought to use Huawei to put pressure on China. Do you think there is a chance that the US would do the same to Hong Kong, in terms of getting a fair world trade deal? How would Beijing respond?
今日俄罗斯电视台记者：自美国政府将华为公司列入“实体清单”，中美经贸摩擦逐步升级，你认为美方是否会将香港问题作为解决贸易问题的筹码？如果是这样，中方将如何应对，会否在香港问题上作出让步？
Ambassador: The talks are still going on, and I personally feel cautiously optimistic about the future of the China-US trade relations. Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee Yang Jiechi is in New York and had a talk with Secretary Pompeo. They had a very candid discussion on the bilateral relations, including trade issues. On Hong Kong, China will never compromise its principles for a trade deal. We wouldn’t barter away our principles. It’s purely China’s internal affairs which brook no foreign intervention, no matter which country it is from.
刘大使：中美经贸磋商仍在继续，我对此持审慎乐观态度。中共中央政治局委员、中央外事工作委员会办公室主任杨洁篪日前访问纽约，会见了美国国务卿蓬佩奥，就包括贸易问题在内的中美关系交换了意见。中方不会在香港问题上牺牲原则，来换取与美方达成贸易协议。我们从不拿原则做交易。香港问题纯属中国内政，我们坚决反对任何外来干涉，不管这个干涉来自哪个国家。
Bloomberg: The entire Hong Kong business community would agree with you when you said that the unrest has been very bad for the economy, bad for Hong Kong’s position as a global financial centre. And yet many would also argue that if the Chinese Central Government were to intervene directly, that could be even worse. In order to solve this, it will require some sort of engagement with the protesters whom you acknowledged are not all violent and many have some legitimate concerns. Do you not think that the position you laid out here, which is quite hard-line, should allow more space for engagement with the protesters, in the interest of, as you said, maintaining stability, economic well-being and international image of Hong Kong?
彭博社记者：你提到当前乱局将损害香港经济和营商环境，我认为香港工商界赞同这一点，他们十分担心街头示威会削弱香港的国际金融中心地位。但他们中很多人也忧虑中国中央政府直接干预香港事务，比如派军队镇压所谓街头暴力。他们的一些关切是合理的。你认为中央政府出于维护香港繁荣稳定和国际地位的需要，今后会否创造更多与街头抗议者接触和对话的空间？
Ambassador: Let me ask you this. We are talking about an unpleasant situation. If Hong Kong’s situation becomes uncontrollable and unrest goes on and on, will it serve the interests of the business community in Hong Kong? Or the Central Government will intervene with a resolute solution and put an end to unrest as quickly as possible, will that serve their interests? I think the answer would be the latter. But that’s an extreme situation. That is a situation we would not like to see. And we hope to see the situation end in an orderly way, which includes that the people should rally behind the Hong Kong SAR Government and rally behind the Chief Executive to support Hong Kong SAR Government to put this to an end, to bring the violence and law offenders to justice, and to restore order. That is the top priority of Hong Kong today.
刘大使：我要反问你一下：如果面临两种形势，一种是香港局势失控、持续动荡；一种是中央政府果断介入、终止动乱，哪一种符合工商界利益？我认为答案显然是后者。当然，这只是极端情况，并不是现实。我们希望香港事态平稳有序结束。这需要在广大爱国爱港人士坚定支持下，香港特区政府和香港警方严正执法、果断执法，尽快将违法分子绳之以法、严惩不贷，依法维护香港法治环境和社会秩序。这是香港的当务之急。
BBC: You draw a distinction between the violent protesters and nonviolent protesters. I just want to be clear. Can you unequivocally tell the people of Hong Kong that if the violence stops but peaceful protest continues, there is no way that the central Chinese authorities will intervene in the internal affairs of Hong Kong? It is only the violence that China will quell or stop.
BBC广播四台记者：感谢大使给我第二次提问的机会。我注意到你在刚才的答问中表示，对香港暴徒与和平抗议者要加以区分。你可否在此对香港市民明确一点：如果结束暴力，大家仍可继续进行和平抗议，不会遭受中国中央政府的干预，即中央干预只针对严重损害中国利益的暴力行径？
Ambassador: I hope you should go back to my opening statement. I said if the situation in Hong Kong deteriorates into unrest uncontrollable for the Hong Kong SAR Government, the Central Government would not sit by and watch. And we have enough solutions and power to quell the unrest swiftly. What you are talking about is a situation that is not happening. It is still under control of the Hong Kong SAR Government. So we do not need to talk about that part.
刘大使：你不妨回忆一下我刚才的开场讲话：如果香港局势进一步恶化，出现香港特区政府不能控制的动乱，中国中央政府绝不会坐视不管。按照《基本法》规定，中国中央政府有足够多的办法、足够强大的力量迅速平息可能出现的各种动乱。目前香港局势是可控的，仍在香港特区政府有效管控下，不存在你谈的假设情况。
BBC Radio 4: It may go beyond control?
记者追问：如果和平示威一旦失控呢？
Ambassador: That shows your lack of understanding of the situation. You have underestimated the capability of Hong Kong SAR Government and the Hong Kong police. They are fully prepared and equipped to handle peaceful demonstration – but it has to be peaceful.
刘大使：这反映出你对有关问题缺乏了解，低估了香港特区政府和警方的能力。他们有准备、有能力妥善应对和平抗议示威。当然，前提是抗议示威必须是和平的、非暴力的。
CNN: You talked about how patient you’ve been right now, and you were suggesting that you have resources and solutions to quell it swiftly. What sort of timeline we are looking at? Let’s suppose by this time next week, do you think the Hong Kong SAR Government will be able to resolve the crisis by itself without the support of the Central Government? Or we will still be having this conversation next week?
CNN记者：感谢大使也给我第二次提问的机会。你刚才反复提及中国中央政府仍对香港局势保持耐心，并强调你们有足够的办法和力量迅速平息事态。那么你认为在接下来的数周之内，香港特区政府能否使事态出现根本改观？或者你再举行一次记者会，继续回应外界关切？
Ambassador: As I said, we have full trust in the Hong Kong SAR Government. I hope they will put an end to it at an early date, as soon as possible. Maybe we do not need another press conference. We’ll see.
刘大使：我在此重申，我们坚信在中国中央政府的大力支持下，在香港特区政府和林郑月娥行政长官的带领下，香港社会一定能够尽快止暴制乱，尽早恢复正常秩序。这样，我也就不需要再次举行记者会了。
谢谢大家！
Thank you.