After Patten, EU rap, China says Hong Kong purely 'internal matter'

After Chris Patten said PM May should broach Hong Kong's freedom with Chinese authorities, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said Hong Kong affairs was purely an "internal matter".

Chris Patten was the British governor in 1997 when Britain formally handed over Hong Kong to China after the 99-year lease ended marking the end of 156 years of British colonial rule.

Patten said the British government should question China over Hong Kong's political issues. In a letter to May, Patten along with former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown requested the British PM to raise Hong Kong’s plight with China’s leaders.

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The European Union too criticised Hong Kong government's decision to bar 21-year-old activist Agnes Chow from standing for election.

May promised to hold "frank discussions" with Chinese leaders during her three-day visit which will begins this week.