Beijing criticised what it called irresponsible remarks by Britain after a UK half-yearly report said Hong Kong’s national security law had further diminished the openness that underpinned the city’s success, according to the South China Morning Post.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said he was deeply concerned and disturbed by the continued imprisonment of former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, jailed for 20 years over national security offences.