China warns foreign countries against interfering in Hong Kong's politics

China has issued a strict warning to foreign countries against interfering in Hong Kong's politics.

The warning comes as China is set to make an important announcement on the territory's election process.

Chinese state media said using Hong Kong as a "bridgehead to subvert the mainland" would not be tolerated, the BBC reports.

As the Chinese government is planning to limit elections to selected pro-Beijing candidates, pro- democracy activists in Hong Kong have threatened mass disobedience if elections are not opened up.

China's standing committee of the National People's Congress is holding a week-long conference to discuss how to pick Hong Kong's next leader.

While critics have suggested that China should screen candidates through a nominating committee, China says that citizens of Hong Kong can elect their leader in 2017.

Pro-democratic activists have vowed to launch a large-scale civil disobedience if an agreement is not accepted.

Many think the committee only includes the elite businessmen of Beijing.