customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

knowledgeQuestion

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Tanna Chong

JOSHUA BUT

The top US envoy in Hong Kong said yesterday Washington would not support any political parties or give any prescription on reform when it came to the city's democratic development.
Clifford Hart's cautious approach in his maiden public speech came a month after Foreign Ministry Commissioner Song Zhe warned him to stay out of the city's affairs.
Speaking at a lunch hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce, the US consul general said Washington supported Hong Kong's progress towards genuine universal suffrage, but it had "no prescription".
"The United States will always stand for our core democratic values," Hart said.
He said soon after his arrival on July 30 that he was looking forward to Hongkongers' move towards "genuine democratic suffrage". He has also met various political parties in the past two months.
"The United States does not take a position for or against any particular formulation on how genuine universal suffrage is achieved," Hart said yesterday.
"We will always advocate the fundamental principles that underlie every successful democracy - open dialogue and debate, the rule of law, free and fair elections, and choice among candidates."
Asked about the Occupy Central democracy movement, Hart said the US "does not support" any political groups or movement.
Asked by a chamber member about his reaction to the criticism provoked by his earlier comments, Hart said he would be satisfied if the attention over the past two months could be maintained during the rest of his tenure. "I feel I am received quite warmly. I have no complaints," he said.
Hart refused to talk about the controversy over US whistle-blower Edward Snowden, which his predecessor Stephen Young said had damaged trust between the US and Hong Kong. Hart said he stood by Young's statement.
Civic Party lawmaker Ronny Tong Ka-wah said he hoped the US and Britain would adopt "quiet diplomacy" or it might deepen misunderstandings between Beijing and pan-democrats in Hong Kong.
"I just hope they can help facilitate mutual trust in the political reform process," he said.
Separately, Wang Guangya , director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, told the city's political appointees that the debate on constitutional reform must stay rational and stick to the law. Top mainland officials have said the "public nomination" of chief executive candidates would violate the Basic Law.
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Raymond Tam Chi-yuen, who joined Wang and 16 undersecretaries and political assistants at a closed-door meeting in Beijing yesterday, said the government would not make a quick decision.
 


US will keep its nose out of Hong Kong poll, says envoy Clifford Hart

US envoy Clifford Hart addresses the AmCham lunch about his impressions of US-Hong Kong relations. Photo: Reuters

Propaganda chief takes swipe at 'ant'

Hao Tiechuan. Photo: Sam Tsang

New US consul general Clifford Hart praises Hong Kong's rule of law

Hong Kong's new US consul general Clifford Hart is a veteran diplomat and a former special envoy in six-party talks with North Korea over its nuclear plan. Photo: AFP

US diplomat’s comments on Hong Kong politics ‘upset’ Beijing, says report

US Consular General Clifford Hart. Photo: AFP

The new US consul general in Hong Kong was warned to steer clear of the city's political debate。 Photo: screenshot via the Global Times

Beijing warns US to stay out of Hong Kong politics

United States Consul General Clifford Hart. Photo: AFP

Song Zhe, commissioner of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong. Photo: SCMP Pictures

US diplomat under fire for 'meddling'

Stephen Young addresses delegates at a forum in Admiralty on US Economic Engagement in the Asia Pacific . Photo: Jonathan Wong

News

Hong Kong

In cautious maiden speech, Clifford Hart vows Washington will not take sides while sticking to its basic stance on need for universal suffrage
