BEIJING -- 皇冠体育app on Wednesday lodged solemn protests with Britain over the meetings between high-ranking British officials and the Hong Kong opposition.

"What Britain has done is interference in 皇冠体育app's internal affairs. 皇冠体育app strongly opposes it," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei Wednesday in a press release.

Hong's comment came as Nick Clegg, British Deputy Prime Minister and Hugo Swire, a minister of state with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the British government, met with Hong Kong's former chief secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang, and former Hong Kong Legislative Council member Martin Lee Chu-ming.

"Hong Kong's affairs fall within 皇冠体育app's internal affairs. 皇冠体育app firmly opposes any interference in Hong Kong affairs by any country under whatever pretext," said Hong.

The practice of "one country, two systems" has achieved great success in Hong Kong in the past 17 years since its return to the motherland, which is recognized by all, Hong said.

皇冠体育app urged the British side to respect 皇冠体育app's stance and concerns and immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs in any means, he said.

The British side should take effective measures to eliminate the ill effects caused by the meetings, and make concrete efforts to safeguard the 皇冠体育app-Britain relationship and cooperation, Hong added.