China warns US, UK to stop criticism of new HK law

Bloomberg

China on Thursday warned of strong countermeasures if the US, Australia and the UK continued taking actions in response to Beijing’s tough national security law in Hong Kong, saying foreign pressure would “never succeed.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said China “deplores and firmly opposes” the US House of Representatives’ unanimous passing of a bill that would level sanctions on banks that do business with Chinese officials involved in clamping down on Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protesters. Hundreds more were arrested during demonstrations against the law, which came into effect recently.
“The US attempt to obstruct this law is doomed to fail,” Zhao said at a regular briefing in
Beijing. “We urge the US side to grasp the situation, abide by the basic norms of international law and international relations, stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and advancing or implementing this negative bill. Otherwise we will take strong countermeasures and they have to bear all the consequences.”
China’s move to impose the security law risks reshaping the financial hub’s character 23 years after Beijing took control of the former British colony. The law’s vague language generated confusion about what activities were allowed, adding uncertainty for some businesses that have operations in Hong Kong in part because of its independent British-inspired legal system.
The UK has offered to upgrade the status of British National (Overseas) passport holders in Hong Kong to offer
a path to citizenship. Some 350,000 residents hold BNO passports and another 2.5 million of the city’s 7.5 million people are eligible for them.

UK says offer to Hong Kongers stands after China warning
Bloomberg

Boris Johnson’s government refused to back down after China warned of “consequences” if it presses ahead with the offer a home in the UK for millions of Hong Kong residents. The British prime minister promised almost 3 million people new visas and a path to citizenship after China enforced a security law on the former British colony, which Johnson called a “clear and serious breach” of the 1984 handover treaty between London and Beijing.
But China hit back, questioning the UK’s right under the “joint declaration” treaty to make the offer to people in Hong Kong. “China strongly condemns that and reserves the right to make further reactions,” Chinese Foreign
Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters in Beijing. Johnson’s spokesman, James Slack, said the UK’s offer still stands and China’s warning will not change the British government’s stance.
“We were very clear on the action we would take if China imposed this law, we will now do exactly what we said we would do,” Slack said. “We continue to work closely with the US and others on this and we all share the same concerns over the illegality and unacceptability of the national security legislation.”