China has urged the European side to respect China's sovereignty and basic facts after the European Parliament passed a motion on Hong Kong affairs Thursday.

China has lodged solemn representations with the European side, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a press briefing when asked to comment on the motion, which urges the government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) to withdraw its fugitive law amendments and release the protesters.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang speaks at a press briefing on Friday, July 19, 2019. [Photo: gov.cn]

"The motion disregards the fact, confuses right and wrong, and wags fingers at Hong Kong SAR government's administration in accordance with the law and central government's policy on Hong Kong," Geng said.

Stressing that Hong Kong affairs are China's internal affairs and no foreign governments, organizations or individuals have the right to interfere in, Geng said the Chinese side is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposes such a motion.

The national flag of China and the regional flag of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. [File photo: IC]

"The European side must not interfere in Hong Kong affairs in any form or support violent lawbreakers who disrupt Hong Kong's order with violent acts, otherwise it will only end up hurting itself," Geng said.