Top diplomat objects to HK measure advancing in Washington

China's top diplomat, Yang Jiechi, has urged the United States to immediately take measures to prevent the so-called Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act from becoming law and pull its hand out of Hong Kong affairs.

In an interview with Xinhua News Agency released on Tuesday, Yang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, said China has lodged stern representations with the US over the passing of the bill in the US Congress.

The US House of Representatives sent the bill to the White House last week after approving it, which the US Senate had done the day before. Under the bill, the US would annually review Hong Kong's autonomy and whether it will grant the city special economic status.