The Chinese Embassy in Washington has told the United States to stay out of China’s internal affairs and respect the nation’s sovereignty, after the US State Department criticised Hong Kong’s new national security legislation.

In a statement on its website, the embassy said it was strongly dissatisfied by the denigration and smearing of the legislation, which was passed unanimously by the SAR’s legislature on Tuesday.

The spokesman said the bill "punishes a very small number of criminals who endanger national security and protects the vast majority of law-abiding Hong Kong residents".

It added that normal activities of foreign organisations, enterprises and personnel are fully protected by law.

On Tuesday, the US State Department’s deputy spokesperson, Vedant Patel, had said crimes outlined in the legislation were vague, adding that Washington was analysing potential risks to its citizens and to American interests. (RTHK/Reuters)