China's Foreign Ministry on Friday urged the United States to immediately stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's latest comments on the Chinese special administrative region. 

The Legislative Council of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Thursday passed amendments to electoral laws, which the senior U.S. official later claimed "severely constrains people in Hong Kong from meaningfully participating in their own governance and having their voices heard."

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Hong Kong legislature passes amendments to electoral laws

Blinken also called for the release of people charged under the HKSAR's national security law.
 

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian denounced Blinken's remarks, saying the U.S. is in essence meddling in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs rather than expressing concern for Hong Kong and its residents' rights.