Beijing's official in HK warns against foreign meddling

HONG KONG: Beijing's top official in Hong Kong on Thursday warned foreign forces not to interfere with the bottom line of national security in the city, threatening retaliation amid tensions between China and Western powers.

The US, Britain and their allies have condemned China's tightening control over Hong Kong's freedoms, including the sweeping national security law and electoral reforms that have all but silenced the oncevibrant opposition in the semiautonomous territory.

When it is time, actions must be taken in relation to any external or foreign forces that may interfere Hong Kong affairs or attempts to use Hong Kong as a pawn, said Luo Huining, director of the central government's liaison office in Hong Kong.

We will propose strong objections and teach them a lesson," he said at the opening ceremony for Hong Kong's National Security Education Day.

Authorities marked the event with a police college open house, where police personnel demonstrated the Chinese military's goose step march, replacing British-style foot drills from the time Hong Kong was ruled by the U.K. until the 1997 handover to China.