Authorities condemn US meddling in HK affairs

China on Thursday strongly deplored and firmly opposed the passage of the "Hong Kong Autonomy Act" by the US Congress, urging Washington to immediately stop meddling in China's internal affairs.

If the US is determined to go down the wrong path, China will have to take all necessary measures in response, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, said in a statement released on Thursday.

The House of Representatives passed the act on Wednesday. It had already been passed by the US Senate on June 25. The legislation threatens to sanction Chinese individuals, entities and financial institutions.

The act will go to US President Donald Trump for his signature.

The NPC said that the US move seriously breaches international law and basic norms governing international relations, and that it is gross interference in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs.

National security legislation is in the power of the central government in all countries and the Chinese central government holds the primary and ultimate responsibility for national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, it said in the statement.

There is no way that the act passed by the US Congress concerns the democracy and freedom of the Hong Kong people, but is instead an attempt to restrain and contain China's development, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's top political advisory body, said in a statement on Thursday.

However, the attempt by anti-China forces in the US will never succeed as Hong Kong, the "Pearl of the Orient", will shine again with lasting stability and security as the law on safeguarding national security in Hong Kong is implemented, it added.

Speaking at a regular news briefing in Beijing on Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that China's determination and resolution to uphold national sovereignty and security, as well as Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, remain unshakable no matter how external forces try to exert pressure.

The spokesman noted that Hong Kong affairs, including the National Security Law, are purely China's internal affairs that allow no foreign interference and the US attempt to obstruct China's implementation of the law will never succeed.

"We urge the US to clearly recognize the situation, abide by international laws and basic norms governing international relations, stop interference of any form in Hong Kong affairs, and stop pushing or signing into law the negative bill concerning Hong Kong," Zhao said.

"Otherwise, China will definitely react firmly with strong countermeasures and the US shall bear all the consequences," he added.

At Thursday's news briefing, Zhao also said that China strongly deplored any move taken by the United Kingdom to offer Hong Kong residents a path to settlement in the UK and reserves the right to take corresponding measures.

He made the remark after the UK government confirmed in a news release published on Wednesday that new arrangements will be put in place for holders of the British Nationals (Overseas) passport.

"All Chinese compatriots residing in Hong Kong are Chinese nationals, whether or not they are holders of the British National (Overseas) passport," Zhao said.

The spokesman noted that the British side had declared that it would not confer the right of abode to Chinese citizens in Hong Kong holding BNO passports before Hong Kong's return to China.

"Britain's unilateral changes breach its own position and pledges as well as international law and basic norms governing international relations," he said, adding that Britain would bear all the consequences for any change.