Hong Kong Protests 'Internal Affair,' China FM Tells U.S.

China Wednesday scolded the United States saying pro-democracy protests sweeping Hong Kong were none of its business and brushing off U.S. calls for restraint warning it will not tolerate "illegal acts."

"The Chinese government has very firmly and clearly stated its position. Hong Kong affairs are China's internal affairs," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry ahead of talks at the State Department.

"All countries should respect China's sovereignty and this is a basic principle of governing international relations," Wang said sternly.

"I believe for any country, for any society, no-one would allow those illegal acts that violate public order. That's the situation in the United States and that's the same situation in Hong Kong."

Kerry however renewed U.S. calls for restraint by the Hong Kong authorities in tackling the protests with huge crowds gathering Wednesday in defiant mood on China's National Day.

"As China knows, we support universal suffrage in Hong Kong, accordant with the Basic Law," Kerry told reporters, standing alongside Wang.

"We believe in an open society with the highest possible degree of autonomy and governed by rule of law is essential for Hong Kong's stability and prosperity," Kerry said.

"And we have high hopes that the Hong Kong authorities will exercise restraint and respect the protestors right to express their views peacefully."

Beijing is grappling with one of the biggest challenges to its rule over the city, triggered after it restricted who can run as the commercial hub's next chief executive.

Wang threw Beijing's support behind the Hong Kong authorities saying that they had the "capability to properly handle the current situation in accordance with the law."