In Hong Kong, a culture clash between media and Beijing leaders

Jiang flew into a rage on Friday after Hong Kong journalists asked repeatedly whether Beijing would support Tung for a second five-year term

From staff and wire reports

HONG KONG -- A top Chinese official said on Monday Beijing is not overtly backing Tung Chee-hwa for a second term as Hong Kong's leader and accused journalists of twisting President Jiang Zemin's words to suggest it did.

Chinese leaders stirred an uproar last week when Jiang, Premier Zhu Rongji and Vice Premier Qian Qichen appeared to back Tung's re-election for the first time, sparking fears they were meddling in the former British colony's affairs.

Jiang also angrily berated Hong Kong journalists after he was asked if Tung was "The Emperor's choice."

But an official from the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the State Council -- China's cabinet -- said no Chinese leader, including Jiang, had offered support for Tung beyond 2002, when his current tenure ends.

VIDEO CNN's Mike Chinoy examines Hong Kong's determination to protect its freedom Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)    VIDEO China's Jiang Xemin shows irritation at journalists' questions about Beijing's support of Hong Kong's leadership Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)     MESSAGE BOARD Share your thoughts on today's events in China

"As the leader of our nation, he cannot say such a thing," said the official when asked whether Jiang had meant to endorse a second term for Tung.

"In President Jiang's speech, there should be no suggestion of who should be supported as the next chief executive," the official, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters.

"Perhaps the journalists of the media have mistaken his meaning, or themselves embellished and made things up."

Hong Kong reverted to Chinese rule in July 1997 as a highly autonomous special administrative region of communist China.

The government spokesman's comments on Monday are the latest sign of friction between Beijing and Hong Kong. Recently, in Hong Kong'a main Catholic cathedral, more than 1,000 people gathered to honor 120 Chinese and international saints recently canonized by Pope John Paul II.

They gathered despite pressure from Beijing, which strictly controls the Catholic Church in mainland China but has no formal ties with the Vatican and denounced the canonization.

As the Chinese media declared that most of the saints deserved to die, Chinese government officials warned Hong Kong Catholic authorities to keep the observance low key.

"China, in fact, was trying to do something in Hong Kong similar to what is done in mainland China," said Father Lawrence Lee, a Catholic priest. "That is a cause of concern."

Recently, in Hong Kong'a main Catholic cathedral, more than 1,000 people gathered to honor 120 Chinese and international saints recently canonized by Pope John Paul II

Jiang rages

Jiang flew into a rage on Friday after Hong Kong journalists asked repeatedly whether Beijing would support Tung for a second five-year term.

"The media must raise its knowledge, do you know that? Your questions are too simple, sometimes naive," he shouted.

Jiang said he backed Tung, but added: "When I say what I say, it's not because I've chosen him ... but it must still be done according to Hong Kong's laws.

"And of course our decision is very important, as well."

Tung was selected by a Beijing-handpicked committee of 400 people in 1996. The next chief executive will be selected by a Beijing-appointed committee of 800.

Some say the lecturing by Jiang is a sign of concern for the Hong Kong media.

"It is worrying because it fits into a pattern of increasingly strong signals from mainland officials towards Hong Kong," said Danny Gittings of the South China Morning Post. "For a couple of years after the handover, they (Chinese government leaders) were quite careful to avoid anything that might look like interfering in Hong Kong. But this year, there've been several warnings to the media. We've had warnings to the Catholic Church. Now we have Jiang Zemin losing his temper and, even if he didn't intend it, sending a message to the Hong Kong media to behave as they see it."

But many journalists in Hong Kong say they have no intention of bowing to the Chinese government.

"I don't think they (Hong Kong media) should be concerned with his (Jiang's) feelings," said Mak Yin-ting of the Hong Kong Journalists Association.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Foreign Ministry of People's Republic of China

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