China threatens UK with 'countermeasures' if it eases passport rules for Hong Kongers

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian (Reuters Photo)

China on Friday threatened the UK with reprisals for saying it could offers Hong Kongers a pathway to British citizenship if Beijing goes ahead with a new national security law in the Chinese territory.

Beijing "reserves the right to take corresponding countermeasures," foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters at a press briefing, after the UK's foreign secretary said Britain may relax residency rules for holders of "British National Overseas" passports in Hong Kong.