A TOP Chinese official angrily denounced Executive Councillor Professor Edward Chen Kwan-yiu yesterday, saying he talked ''nonsense'' when claiming it was better for Hong Kong if paramount leader Deng Xiaoping died ''earlier rather than later''.
Xinhua (New China News Agency) deputy director, Zhang Junsheng, said he was furious about remarks made by Professor Chen during a visit to Japan last week.
''It's nonsense for Mr Chen, as an Executive Councillor, to make such frivolous remarks about a man who is highly respected by people all over the world,'' Mr Zhang said.
''Personally, I am really quite angry. Mr Deng's health is very good. But, regardless of that, I do not think Mr Chen should make such remarks about a respectable old man.'' Professor Chen was supposed to have told foreign correspondents in Tokyo: ''From the point of view of Hong Kong people, it's better for Deng to go earlier than later.'' But yesterday he refused to apologise, insisting he had been misquoted, and that even a child should have understood what he meant.
''I never said that Deng should die,'' he said while attending the opening of a Consumer Council exhibition in Pacific Place.
''I wasn't wishing for Deng Xiaoping's death, only an end to the uncertainty.
''There are clearly only three options: he will either pass away before 1997, during 1997, or after 1997. I merely pointed out that the timing is critical to Hong Kong.