HONG KONG - A spokesperson for the Commissioner's Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region strongly opposed and disapproved unwarranted remarks by Hong Kong’s Foreign Correspondents' Club on Beijing’s countermeasures against Washington’s restrictions on Chinese media agencies.

READ MORE: China counters US curbs on Chinese media with new steps

The measure is legitimate and justified self-defense in every sense, and it is not China that started all this in the first place

Spokesperson, Commissioner's Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the spokesperson said the announcement by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs that relevant journalists of US citizenship will not be allowed to continue working as journalists in China, including its Hong Kong and Macao SARs, is a “necessary and reciprocal countermeasure China is compelled to take in response to the US oppression of Chinese media organizations there.”

“The measure is legitimate and justified self-defense in every sense, and it is not China that started all this in the first place. Therefore, instead of confounding right with wrong and making groundless accusations against China, the FCC should address its complaints to the US administration, urging the latter to immediately change course, undo the damage, and stop its political oppression of and arbitrary restrictions on Chinese media organizations,” the spokesperson said in the statement. 

The spokesperson emphasized that Hong Kong is part of China, and China's decision on the countermeasures falls within the central government's purview over foreign affairs in accordance with the "one country, two systems" and the Basic Law, which is completely legitimate, fair and reasonable. 

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The spokesperson added that the allegation of “interference from the Chinese government" in Hong Kong affairs is patently absurd. 

“We suggest the FCC study the Basic Law, and fully and accurately understand and respect the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, so as to tell right from wrong and avoid making false accusations,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added the office resolutely against any attempt by external forces to abuse the freedom of the press as a pretext for meddling with Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs at large.