According to BBC NEWS, China has warned the UK not to “interfere in its domestic affairs” amid a growing diplomatic row over the recent protests in Hong Kong.
Its UK ambassador said relations had been “damaged” by comments by Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and others backing the demonstrators’ actions.
Liu Xiaoming said those who illegally occupied Hong Kong’s Parliament should be “condemned as law breakers”.
The ambassador has been summoned to the Foreign Office (FCO) later.
The BBC’s diplomatic correspondent said Sir Simon McDonald, head of the diplomatic service at the FCO, would tell Mr Liu in no uncertain terms that what he said was inappropriate and inaccurate.
Earlier, Prime Minister Theresa May said she had raised concerns with Chinese leaders.
Weeks of mass protests in the territory over a controversial extradition bill exploded on Monday, when a group of activists occupied the Legislative Council building for several hours after breaking away from a peaceful protest – raising the colonial-era British flag.
Critics say the extradition bill could be used to send political dissidents from Hong Kong to the mainland.
Demonstrators have also broadened their demands to include the release of all detained activists and investigations into alleged police violence.
In the middle of the demonstrations, Mr Hunt pledged his “unwavering” support to the ex-British colony and its citizens’ freedoms.
In a series of broadcast interviews and posts on social media, Mr Hunt repeated the message that the protesters should refrain from violence, but urged China to listen to the concerns of the Hong Kong people.
Beijing has made a formal complaint about Mr Hunt, accusing the Conservative leadership contender of “colonial-era delusions”.
But Mr Liu said he was “disappointed” by the UK’s response.
He said the countries’ relationship was based on mutual respect and suggested there would be further “problems” if the UK did not recognise China’s sovereignty over Hong Kong, its “territorial integrity and principle of non-interference in domestic affairs”.
He said it was “hypocritical” of UK politicians to criticise the lack of democracy and civil rights in Hong Kong when, under British rule, there had been no elections nor right to protest.
The recent unrest, he added, was “not about freedom but about breaking the law”.