China 'firmly' opposes US visa curbs on Chinese officials

China strongly opposes the US imposing visa restrictions on Chinese officials over Hong Kong-related issues, a spokesperson of the Chinese embassy in the United States said on Friday in Washington.

Earlier on Friday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Washington would curb visas for Chinese officials "who were responsible for eviscerating Hong Kong's freedoms".

"China firmly opposes the US side’s wrongful decisions. Hong Kong is part of China. Hong Kong affairs are China's domestic affairs that allow no external interference," the spokesperson of the Chinese embassy said in a statement.

Legislating on national security is a power and obligation of the central government, and also an international practice. The Hong Kong national security legislation targets a very narrow category of acts that seriously jeopardize national security, the spokesperson said.

The legislation will improve Hong Kong’s legal system, bring more stability to Hong Kong, and contribute to the practice of "one country, two systems" and Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability, according to the statement.

"The legal basis for the Chinese government to govern Hong Kong is China's Constitution and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong SAR, not the Sino-British Joint Declaration," the spokesperson said.

As China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997, all rights and obligations of the British side as prescribed in the Joint Declaration were completed. No one has any legal grounds or right to make irresponsible comments on Hong Kong affairs citing the Sino-British Joint Declaration, noted the spokesperson.

"We urge the US side to immediately correct its mistakes, withdraw the decisions and stop interfering in China's domestic affairs," the spokesperson said. "The Chinese side will continue to take strong measures to uphold national sovereignty, security and development interests."