US Must Stay Out Of Hong Kong's Affairs: Beijing

Beijing on Tuesday slammed what it called "irresponsible and erroneous comments" by Washington about a proposed Hong Kong law that would allow extraditions to jurisdictions, including the mainland, after the United States expressed concerns about the legislation.

"We demand that the US side ... be cautious and stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs in any form," foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular press briefing.

The United States overnight on Monday had urged the Hong Kong government to engage with its residents on concerns about the law amendments.

"The peaceful demonstration of hundreds of thousands of Hong Kongers ... clearly shows the public's opposition to the proposed amendments," a State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus had said.

"We are also concerned that the amendments could damage Hong Kong's business environment and subject our citizens residing in or visiting Hong Kong to China's capricious judicial system."

Ortagus called on Hong Kong authorities to consult "a broad range of local and international stakeholders".

"The continued erosion of the one-country, two-systems framework puts at risk Hong Kong's long-established special status in international affairs," she said. (AFP)