Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu on Wednesday summoned William Klein, acting charge d'affaires of the U.S. Embassy in China, to lodge stern representations and strong protest against the U.S. Senate passing the so-called "Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019."

"Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China and Hong Kong's affairs are purely China's internal affairs. China does not allow any foreign interference in Hong Kong affairs," Ma said.

"We strongly urge the U.S. side to immediately take effective measures to prevent this act from becoming law, immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China's other internal affairs," he stressed. "Otherwise, China will have to take strong countermeasures and the U.S. side must face all the consequences."

The Chinese government has unswerving determination to protect national sovereignty, security and development interests, implement the "One Country, Two Systems" policy and oppose any external force in interfering in Hong Kong's affairs, he said. 

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It's our internal affair: China slams U.S. Senate's passing of HK bill

China expressed strong condemnation and firm opposition hours after the passage of the bill. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government and six Beijing offices voiced their "strong condemnation" for Washington's meddling in Beijing's internal affairs and for their public support for violent rioters who have seriously destroyed the peace and stability of Hong Kong.

(With input from Xinhua)