In this picture taken on Dec 25, 2020, flags of the European Union can be seen fluttering outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels. (FRANCOIS WALSCHAERTS / AFP)

HONG KONG/BEIJING - China on Friday voiced firm opposition to a resolution passed by the European Parliament over the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), urging it to respect China's sovereignty and stop lecturing other countries on human rights.

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In response to a related query, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said Hong Kong affairs are purely the internal affairs of China and brook no interference from any foreign government, organization or individual.

"Certain members of the European Parliament, confusing right and wrong, have advanced the passing of the so-called resolution, constituting a gross interference in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs," Hua said, adding that China firmly opposes such practices.

"We urge the European Parliament to face squarely the fact that Hong Kong has returned to China, abide by the international law and basic norms governing international relations, abandon double standards and stop lecturing other countries over human rights," Hua said.

The European Parliament should earnestly respect China's sovereignty and the rule of law in Hong Kong, and stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs in any form, the spokesperson added. 

A spokesperson for the Chinese Mission to the EU on Friday expressed a similar sentiment.

In a statement, the spokesperson said such a move by the European Parliament grossly interferes in China's internal affairs and Hong Kong affairs.

By pushing for the adoption of the so-called resolution, some MEPs have confounded right and wrong.

Spokesperons, Chinese Mission to the EU

“The Chinese government governs Hong Kong in accordance with the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong SAR, not the Sino-British Joint Declaration. No country or organization has any right to meddle in Hong Kong affairs under the pretext of the Joint Declaration,” the spokesperson said. 

READ MORE: China denounces Europe's interference in internal affairs

The National Security Law only targets criminal activities that seriously undermine national security, and has closed the legislative loopholes in terms of upholding national security in Hong Kong, the spokesperson said. The law represents a major step to improve the “one country, two systems”, the spokesperson added.

“By pushing for the adoption of the so-called resolution, some MEPs have confounded right and wrong.”

Hong Kong affairs, including individual judicial cases and local elections, are entirely China's internal affairs. No foreign government, organization or individual has any right to interfere, the spokesperson said.

“We urge the European Parliament to recognize the fact that Hong Kong has returned to China, abide by international law and the basic norms governing international relations, reject double standards, earnestly respect China's sovereignty and the rule of law in Hong Kong, and immediately stop interfering in any format in China's internal affairs and Hong Kong affairs,” the spokesperson said.

With Xinhua inputs