CHINA expressed strong condemnation against the passing of a Hong Kong-related bill by the U.S. Senate, which “legitimizes” Washington’s monitoring of the city in different respects.

Just hours after the passage of the bill, China voiced “strong condemnation” for Washington’s meddling in its internal affairs and for their public support for violent rioters who have seriously destroyed the peace and stability of Hong Kong.

On Tuesday night, U.S. senators approved the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act and the Protect Hong Kong Act.

Following the voice vote by the U.S. Senate, the House of Representatives, which approved its own version of the Hong Kong bill last month, will now have to work with the Senate to figure out a unified bill before having U.S. President Donald Trump make the ultimate decision on whether it can be signed into law.

The Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the top legislature of China, yesterday firmly opposed and strongly condemned the passing of the bills.

The move “grossly interfered in China’s internal affairs,” according to a statement issued by the NPC committee.

Violent criminals in Hong Kong have continuously escalated their activities of beating people, smashing facilities and setting fires recently, with some even hurting ordinary citizens, said the statement, noting that they showed no sign of respect to morality or fear of the law.

“This is closely related to the U.S. intervention in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs,” it said.

Instead of condemning heinous violent crimes in Hong Kong, the U.S. Senate, at the urging of a handful of anti-China lawmakers, continued to bolster violent criminals in the name of “human rights” and “democracy,” fully exposing the U.S. Congress’ extreme hypocrisy, stark double standards and its evil intentions to oppose China and create turmoil in Hong Kong, it read.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said in a press statement that China expressed strong condemnation against and firm opposition to the bills.

Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu yesterday summoned William Klein, acting charge d’affaires of the U.S. Embassy in China, to lodge stern representations and strong protest against the bills.

The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the Liaison Office of the Chinese Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), and the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the HKSAR also reacted to the matter, saying they firmly oppose the passing of the bill.

The HKSAR Government expressed deep regret over the passage of the bills.   (Xinhua, CGTN)