British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg’s meeting with Hong Kong pro democracy activists has prompted China to issue a formal complaint to Britain.

Clegg met with former chief secretary Anson Chan and former Hong Kong legislative council member Martin Lee on Tuesday, over concerns about Beijing’s ever tightening restrictions on the former British territory.

Although Hong Kong enjoys a certain level of autonomy from Mainland China under the ‘one-country, two-systems’ policy, activists are concerned that Hong Kong’s democratic freedoms are being curbed.

"The UK's actions are an interference in China's internal affairs. China expresses strong dissatisfaction,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hong Lei said in a statement addressing the issue.

"Hong Kong's affairs fall within China's internal affairs. China firmly opposes any interference in Hong Kong affairs by any country under whatever pretext,"

Nick Clegg has responded by reaffirming Britain's commitment to the Joint Declaration that saw Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997, however he stressed that Hong Kong people’s ability to participate democratically in the 2017 elections was also a top priority.

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Keywords: China Protests Britain ‘Interfering’ Over Hong Kong