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China accused London of interfering in its internal affairs after British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg met two leading Hong Kong pro-democracy activists urging greater freedoms from Beijing.
Beijing "lodged solemn protests" with Britain over Tuesday's meetings with Martin Lee, founder of the opposition Democratic Party, and Anson Chan, the former number 2 in the city's government, Xinhua reported yesterday.
"What Britain has done is interference in China's internal affairs. China strongly opposes it," said foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei.
"Hong Kong's affairs fall within China's internal affairs. China firmly opposes any interference in Hong Kong affairs by any country under whatever pretext," said Hong.
Watch: Anson Chan slams Britain's latest report on Hong Kong in British parliament

Discontent in Hong Kong has bubbled over Beijing's insistence that it vet candidates before the vote for the city's next leader in 2017.
Under the "one country, two systems" deal at the time of the handover, Hong Kong has guaranteed liberties not seen on the mainland, including freedom of speech and the right to protest.
But concerns are growing that these freedoms are being eroded.
A string of attacks on media workers has raised fears for press freedom, while Beijing published a "white paper" last month on the city's future that was widely seen as a warning to Hong Kong not to overstep its bounds.
Chan and Lee appeared before a British parliamentary committee on Wednesday, urging London not to turn a blind eye to "attacks" on freedoms in its former colony.
The outspoken campaigners told the Foreign Affairs Committee that London had been failing in its responsibility towards democracy in Hong Kong.
"It is vital that the British government does not turn a blind eye to current developments in Hong Kong," Chan told the committee members.
The pair heavily criticised a British parliamentary report earlier this month in which then-British foreign secretary William Hague said the city's unique constitutional framework has worked well and that there was no "perfect model" for electoral reform.
The city's current leader Leung Chun-ying was chosen by a pro-Beijing committee.
An unofficial referendum on how the next leader should be chosen drew a massive turnout of almost 800,000 people last month, angering Beijing.
It was followed by a huge pro-democracy march on July 1 which organisers said was the biggest protest since the 1997 handover.


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Hong Kong needs a clear-eyed view of Beijing’s powers under the Basic Law

Joshua Wong acquitted: judge tells activist to reflect on his behaviour, drops police obstruction charges

Joshua Wong seized my water bottle and obstructed my work, Hong Kong policeman tells court

Beijing White Paper 2014

Beijing slams British 'interference' as Nick Clegg meets Hong Kong pro-democracy activists

British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. Photo: Reuters

UK will mobilise global community if China breaches ‘one country, two systems’: Nick Clegg 

Clegg said universal suffrage should 'meet the aspirations' of Hongkongers, according to the FT. Photo: Reuters

Harry's View

News

China

Foreign ministry says it has lodged protests over what it said was Britain's meddling in internal affairs


China accused London of interfering in its internal affairs after British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg met two leading Hong Kong pro-democracy activists urging greater freedoms from Beijing.


Beijing slams British 'interference' as Nick Clegg meets Hong Kong pro-democracy activists

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Foreign ministry says it has lodged protests over what it said was Britain's meddling in internal affairs

Foreign ministry says it has lodged protests over what it said was Britain's meddling in internal affairs