China accuses UK of interference over Hong Kong report

China has accused the United Kingdom of “serious interference” in its internal affairs following the release of a British report detailing the deterioration of freedoms in Hong Kong. The Chinese embassy in the UK issued a diplomatic protest, rejecting the British government’s “irresponsible statements.”

Beijing maintains that the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration does not grant London any right to supervise Hong Kong’s affairs following the 1997 transfer of sovereignty. China asserted that the territory is governed by the Chinese Constitution and the Basic Law, urging London to “abandon its colonial mentality” and cease publishing semi-annual reports on the region.

The British report, covering the first half of 2026, warns of the expanding scope of national security legislation and its impact on freedom of expression, assembly, association, and the press. It specifically highlights the 20-year prison sentence handed to British citizen and Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai, for which London is demanding “immediate release.”