Tensions between the United Kingdom and China have escalated amidst a war of words over Hong Kong.

According to The Financial Times, China's ambassador to the U.K., Liu Xiaoming, gave a rare press conference on July 4 where he accused the British government of "gross interference" in the affairs of Hong Kong.

The Guardian reported that these remarks came after U.K. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt had backed citizens in Hong Kong's right to protest while lobbying China not to use the protests as a "pretext for suppression".

In response, Liu said that the U.K. government had chosen to "stand on the wrong side".

"It has made inappropriate remarks not only to interfere in internal affairs of Hong Kong but also to back up the violent lawbreakers."

British rule vs. Chinese rule

Liu also emphasised that Hong Kong was no longer under British colonial rule, but was rather a special administrative region under Beijing.

He was quoted by The Guardian as saying: "We all remember what Hong Kong was 22 years ago under British rule: there was no freedom, democracy, whatever."

"We all know that all governors were appointed by the British government, people had no right to elect officials, no right to demonstrate, certainly, and they did not even have a right to have an independent judicial power."

Upon handing Hong Kong over to Chinese rule 22 years ago, the British and Chinese governments had negotiated an agreement whereby Hong Kong would continue to enjoy the freedoms it had under British rule until 2047.

This led to the institution of the "one country, two systems" approach adopted by China in the 1980s.

In a rebuke of Bejing's perceived intentions to undermine this agreement, protesters had earlier this week breached the Legislative Council building and raised the old British colonial flag.

Damaging the relationship

Liu warned that the U.K. was at risk of further damaging the ties between London and Beijing, while calling on the U.K. to "reflect [on] the consequences of its words and deeds with regards to Hong Kong".

"I do hope the British government will realise the consequences and refrain from further interference from further damaging the relationship."

Liu's comments prompted a quick response from the U.K. with The Guardian reporting that the U.K. permanent under-secretary at the Foreign Office, Sir Simon McDonald, had summoned Liu for "a dressing down".

The Financial Times also reported that the British Foreign Office had labelled Liu's remarks as "totally unacceptable".

Pressure to maintain relations

AFP added that relations between the two countries are increasingly growing in importance in London due to the U.K.'s impending exit from the European Union.

Brexit has meant that the U.K. will need to strengthen trade ties with the U.S. and the growing economies of Asia.

This has put the UK in a tough spot in regards to Huawei, with Washington putting pressure on London to exclude the Chinese tech giant from its 5G technology adoption plans.

However, there are concerns that trade relations with China might suffer as a result of such a move.

Top image from Anthony Wallace/AFP/Getty Images