China hopes the Vatican will not intervene in its internal affairs in any form, said Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing on Tuesday in response to a question that the Vatican appointed a Hong Kong person as the cardinal-bishop recently.

"We hope the Vatican will not maintain a so-called diplomatic relations with a province or a locality of China," Li said at a press conference held on the sideline of the ongoing annual full session of the 10th National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong, and Hong Kong is Chinese people 's, including Hong Kong compatriots', said Li, adding that China is happy to see the achievements made by the Hong Kong compatriots under the leadership of the Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) Government.

"With the regard to the affairs in Hong Kong, We will abide by the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the Basic Law of Hong Kong."

(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2006)