The Chinese embassy in Canada has expressed opposition to remarks by Canadian Foreign Minister François-Philippe Champagne over the arrest of a number of people in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for their role in last year's illegal gatherings.

On Saturday, the Hong Kong police arrested 14 people on suspicion of violating the city's Public Order Ordinance by organizing and participating in unauthorized assemblies in August and October 2019. Hong Kong plunged into chaos after protests against a now-defunct fugitive bill turned into violent anti-government rallies marked with vandalism, rioting and destruction of public property.

A spokesperson for the Security Bureau of the HKSAR government said that the arrests were lawful and based on evidence gathered during investigation.

But in a statement issued on Sunday, Champagne said "Canada is concerned" by the move, which he described as an "extraordinary measure [that] calls for close scrutiny."

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Hong Kong police arrest 14 for illegal assembly

The foreign minister's remarks prompted a response from the Chinese diplomatic mission in Canada. The Chinese embassy in a statement on its website on Monday said the action taken by the Hong Kong police was in accordance with the law and an exercise by the SAR government of the powers granted by the Basic Law of the HKSAR.

On the same day, China's Foreign Ministry also condemned the interference of certain Western politicians in China's internal affairs, noting that Hong Kong is a society ruled by law and that this must be respected.

The Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR also expressed opposition to criticism by Western figures on the matter.