Hong Kong, China warn of harm to US interests in House vote

Hong Kong's leader expressed "frustration and disappointment and regret" Wednesday over steps by the US Congress to support pro-democracy protesters in the territory and warns they'll hurt American companies operating there.

Reinforcing that criticism, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang stressed Beijing's indignation over Congress' move and promised unspecified countermeasures.

The House passed three bills Tuesday supporting the right of people to protest and opposing Chinese intrusions into Hong Kong's affairs.

It follows months of increasingly violent protests over Beijing's aggressive attempts to enforce control over the semi-autonomous territory.

China has vociferously opposed all criticism of the Hong Kong government's handling of the protests as unwarranted interference into its domestic affairs.

The territory was handed over from British to Chinese rule in 1997 while retaining greater freedoms that those permitted on the Communist Party-ruled mainland.

In Hong Kong, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said, "This Hong Kong human rights and democracy act is totally unjustified and unwarranted."