China threatens UK with 'countermeasures' if it eases passport rules for Hong Kongers

China on Friday threatened the UK with reprisals for saying it could offers Hong Kongers a pathway to British citizenship if Beijing goes ahead with a new national security law in the Chinese territory.

Beijing "reserves the right to take corresponding countermeasures," foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters at a press briefing, after the UK's foreign secretary said Britain may relax residency rules for holders of "British National Overseas" passports in Hong Kong.