On November 20, 2019, Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu summoned Charge d'Affaires a.i. of the United States (US) Embassy in China William Klein to lodge stern representations and strong protests against the US Senate's passing of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act.

Ma Zhaoxu noted, Hong Kong is part of China, and Hong Kong affairs are China's internal affairs, brooking no interference from any foreign government or foreign forces. This act of the US Congress blatantly interferes in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs. It is in serious violation of international law and basic norms governing international relations. The Chinese side firmly opposes it. We strongly urge the US side to immediately take measures to prevent this act from becoming law, and stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs at once. Otherwise, the Chinese side will have to take strong countermeasures. The US side will have to bear all the consequences.

Ma Zhaoxu expressed, the Chinese government is determined to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, implement the "one country, two systems" policy, and oppose any foreign interference in Hong Kong affairs. The Chinese side reminds the US side this plain truth: any attempt to damage Hong Kong's prosperity and stability and impede China's development is doomed to fail and will only end up hurting itself.