The diplomatic mission was commenting on the statement issued by the European Union and swiftly repeated by the French Foreign Ministry last week, when Hong Kong police used live ammunition against a protester in self-defence for the first time in four month of demonstrations.

"We express our deep dissatisfaction and our profound contempt for the hypocrisy of the European statement and the darkness of the intentions of some vis-à-vis China," China’s embassy said in a note on its website.

European Union urged Hong Kong authorities to show restraint and ensure the right of assembly for Hong Kong citizens, among other fundamental freedoms, as well as the proportionate response to the protests.

Chinese diplomats accused the EU in “publicly glorifying the rioters and flouting police self-defence measures against their aggressors”, going as far as wondering in their statement if EU partners actually want Hong Kong to "plunge into irreversible chaos".

They also brought the subject of Yellow Vests protests in France, saying the country’s police force has firsthand and recent experience in dealing with protesters and being under constant criticism from “malicious fringe of people” for their actions. "In these circumstances, we showed empathy for France. We would like it to show the same spirit towards us today," the embassy said in its statement.

The indignant statement from the Chinese embassy comes at a time when France’s Emmanuel Macron is planning to meet Xi Jinping in China next month.

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