Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Tuesday accused the U.S. of "double standards" in its response to protests and warned that the U.S.'s plan to place trade restrictions on the region would "only hurt themselves."

"We have seen most clearly in recent weeks the double standards that are around," Lam told reporters.  "For their own countries' national security, they take that very seriously. For the security of our country, especially the situation in Hong Kong, they take it with a tainted view. "

The chief executive pointed out the recent situation in the U.S., "You know there are riots in the United States, and we see how local governments reacted. And then in Hong Kong, when we had similar riots, we saw what position they adopted then."

She also defended the proposed legislation on national security, saying it's based on the needs of the city.

As some foreign critics say the legislation on national security is going against the requirement or bypassing the HKSAR Legislative Council (LegCo), Lam responded that national security is a matter at the central level for every country and the HKSAR government was unable to complete the legislation on its own in the past 23 years. 

Noting that increasing risks that are undermining national security in Hong Kong, Lam said residents in the HKSAR are living in fear. "That's why some ask whether our society still have rule of law, or rather rule of fear." 

She called on other governments to respect each other when dealing with their relations with HKSAR, especially when the global economy is currently in a weak momentum. 

Acts of imposing sanctions will only make the global economy and people's livelihoods worse, Lam warned.