Reports on plans to replace the Chief Executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam are a "political rumor with ulterior motives," a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday.

The central government firmly supports Carrie Lam in leading the HKSAR government's law-based governance, curbing violence and restoring order, said ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying.

The Financial Times earlier reported that China was drawing up a plan to replace Lam with an "interim" chief executive.