China has lashed out at foreign countries, including Britain, for meddling in its internal affairs by calling for more democracy in Hong Kong.
"In the past year, some foreign politicians and Hong Kong-based consuls have said some very irresponsible words, and we resolutely oppose that," China's Foreign Ministry said in a statement, extracts of which were published in the pro-Beijing Wen Wei Po daily on Friday.
The rebuke, from the ministry's office in Hong Kong, took special aim at Britain, which ruled the city for more than 150 years before returning it to China in 1997.
"A British foreign ministry official made inappropriate comments on the question of Hong Kong's constitutional development to reporters during his recent visit to Hong Kong," the statement said.
It named no names, but visiting British Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell last week called for early progress in the former British colony's transition to full democracy.
His comments followed an appeal made two weeks ago by the U.S. Consul-General in Hong Kong, James Keith, for universal suffrage in the territory. His remarks drew swift opposition from Beijing.
Calls for faster democratisation have grown louder in Hong Kong since July 1 when half a million people staged the city's biggest protest in over a decade to condemn unpopular government policies and demand more democracy.
Disappointed with years of economic hardship and a string of government blunders, Hong Kong's nearly seven million people have agitated for more self-determination.
Hong Kong's constitution, known as the Basic Law, allows its leader and all lawmakers to be returned by universal suffrage from 2007, but does not say when.
Former shipping tycoon Tung Chee-hwa was virtually picked by Beijing to run post-handover Hong Kong, although officially he was elected by a Beijing-anointed caucus. Current electoral rules ensure that the legislature is dominated by pro-Beijing figures.
In its latest statement, China's Foreign Ministry said Hong Kong's constitutional development was China's internal affair and Beijing was highly concerned about it.
It reiterated China's stance that development of the city's political regime should comply with the Basic Law and move "step by step" in accordance with the practical situation.
The Basic Law stipulates that any electoral change will need the endorsement of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, or China's parliament.