Hong Kong does not have the conditions to become independent nor does independence serve its overall interest, Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen says.
He was responding to an article in the latest issue of Hong Kong University's student union magazine Undergrad which suggested Hong Kong become an independent sovereign state when the "one country, two systems" principle expires in 2047.
Mr Yuen told reporters before leaving for Shanghai this morning, that he assumed the students were using discussions on independence as an avenue to strive for greater democracy.
He said based on that assumption, more effort should instead be made to further improve the "one country, two systems" principle which was a more pragmatic approach that could better serve Hong Kong's interests.
