Hua Chunying, a spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, made the remarks at a press conference on Tuesday, a day after the European Union released a highly critical annual report on Hong Kong.

"We call on the European Union to stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs," she said.

A spokesman for the commissioner's office of the Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong emphasized that the "one country, two systems" formula had been effectively implemented and Hong Kong residents' rights and freedom fully protected since the handover.

The Hong Kong government also warned foreign governments not to interfere in the city's affairs, saying "one country, two systems" had worked smoothly since 1997.