Beijing Rebukes Trump Over Hong Kong Remark

China on Tuesday rebuked Donald Trump for "gross interference" in Hong Kong's affairs after the US president said protesters who stormed the city's legislature want democracy for the financial hub.

Trump weighed in on the protests in Hong Kong overnight on Monday, saying the demonstrators are "looking for democracy" but that "some governments don't want democracy".

"We deplore and strongly oppose the relevant country's gross interference in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs," foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular press briefing.

China, he added, warns "the relevant country to speak and act cautiously and stop interfering in Hong Kong's internal affairs in any form".

He also said the United States should "not in any form support those engaged in violence and breaking the law".

Beijing had earlier called for a criminal probe into what it dubbed a "blatant challenge" to the "One Country, Two Systems".

The US had said that Trump would discuss Hong Kong when he met President Xi Jinping at the G20 in Japan during which the two leaders agreed to a trade war ceasefire.

Asked whether the two leaders discussed Hong Kong, Geng referred to previous statements about the meeting which did not mention the topic.

"China's position on Hong Kong is consistent and clear and firm and I believe the US knows this very well," he said. (AFP)