Hong Kong authorities have urged Washington to “stop maliciously interfering” in its internal affairs after two United States lawmakers introduced a bill that could lead to the closure of three offices in the country representing the city.

The strong response on Friday was triggered by a US bill from the day before that was designed to close Hong Kong’s economic and trade offices in America if the White House decided Beijing had undermined the city’s self-government.

The row broke out in the wake of Hong Kong’s massive effort to promote its return to the global stage after three years of pandemic shutdown.