HONG KONG, July 23 (Xinhua) -- The Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Tuesday urged the U.S. to stop sending out wrong signals on illegal violence.

The spokesperson for the commissioner's office expressed strong disapproval of and firm opposition against the false remarks by a spokesperson of the U.S. Department of State on Hong Kong one day earlier.

The spokesperson stated that it is widely recognized that the principles of "one country, two systems", "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy in the SAR have been faithfully implemented since the return of Hong Kong to the motherland, and that Hong Kong people now enjoy unprecedentedly extensive democratic rights and freedoms in accordance with law.

The U. S. accusation of the so-called "erosion of Hong Kong's autonomy" is a biased and groundless smear attempt driven by political motives, the spokesperson added.

The spokesperson emphasized that the recent extreme and violent acts in Hong Kong have seriously undermined the foundation of the rule of law in Hong Kong, posed a grave threat to public security and order, and trampled on the red line of "one country, two systems".

"We again urge the U. S. side to avoid applying double standards, immediately stop sending out any wrong signal on illegal violence, and immediately refrain from interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China's domestic affairs as a whole under any pretext," the spokesperson said.