Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has told his British counterpart that outside interference in Hong Kong's affairs will not be allowed, his ministry said Tuesday, amid mounting criticism of Beijing's move to impose a national security law in the former British colony.

"China has not interfered in the internal affairs of Britain," Wang told British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab during telephone talks on Monday, emphasizing that Beijing will maintain its "one country, two systems" principle.

Under the policy, Hong Kong was promised it would enjoy the rights and freedoms of a semiautonomous region for 50 years following its return to Chinese rule in 1997.

Late last month, China's parliament passed a resolution to introduce a national security law to crack down on what Beijing views as subversive activity in Hong Kong, further antagonizing pro-democracy protesters in the territory and drawing international condemnation.

"Hong Kong's national security legislation should punish the very few acts of 'Hong Kong independence' and terrorists that seriously endanger national security," Wang was quoted by the Chinese Foreign Ministry as telling Raab.

Last year, large-scale protests erupted in Hong Kong following the local government's bid to pass a controversial extradition bill. In the wake of the shelving of the bill, Beijing moved to craft a security law for the territory.

"The national security legislation will only make Hong Kong's legal system more complete and its social order more stable as well as improve the business environment" in the territory, Wang added.

Britain, along with Australia, Canada and the United States, has released a joint statement calling on China to work with the Hong Kong government and people to reach "a mutually acceptable accommodation that will honor China's international obligations."

Earlier this month, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also referred to changing the nation's immigration rules for some 2.9 million Hong Kong people who are entitled to the British National (Overseas) passports.

The passports, issued to those born prior to the territory's handover to China on July 1, 1997, do not grant the right of abode in Britain.

Raab was quoted by the Chinese ministry as telling Wang, "Under the framework of a mature Britain-China relationship, the two sides can exchange candid views on any topics."

"Britain is willing to think carefully about the contents of today's in-depth exchanges and communicate with China in the spirit of mutual respect," Raab said, according to the ministry.