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Rebutting the Five Eyes' joint statement stigmatizing China's top legislature's recent decision to disqualify four unpatriotic lawmakers of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Chinese FM spokesperson Zhao Lijian expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to repeated external interference in China's internal affairs, warning the Five Eyes alliance not to harm China's sovereignty and security.

"No matter how many 'eyes' you have, be careful not to blind yourself by harming China's sovereignty, security and development interests," Zhao said at a routine news conference on Thursday.

On Wednesday, the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing group consisting of Australia, the UK, Canada, New Zealand and the US accused China's top legislative organ's disqualification of members of the Hong Kong Legislative Council (LegCo) of being "part of a campaign to silence critics," and called on Beijing to reinstate them.

Zhao slammed the five countries' statement as a blatant interference in China's internal affairs that flagrantly violated international law and the basic norms of international relations.

He once again stressed that the NPC Standing Committee,China's top legislature, adhered to the Constitution, the Basic Law and the relevant provisions of the National Security Law in deciding on the qualifications of the HKSAR LegCo, sticking to the "one country, two systems" formula.

"The sensible and reasonable decision came from the need to maintain the rule of law and the constitutional order of the HKSAR, which is constitutional and lawful," Zhao said.

"You won't know if the shoe fits until you wear it," Zhao said, quoting a Chinese proverb, and praising the national security law for Hong Kong, "There have been no more so-called beautiful scenes in Hong Kong since the implementation of the national security law. Doesn't that speak for itself?"

Zhao stressed that it is "only right and proper" to allow only patriots to govern Hong Kong, and those who oppose China and stir up trouble in Hong Kong should be out of office.

Shortly after China's top legislature adopted a decision on Nov 11 on the qualifications for members of the LegCo, four opposition lawmakers - Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu, Kwok Ka-ki, Dennis Kwok Wing-hang and Kenneth Leung Kai-cheong - who have infamous records for creating trouble and are deemed unfit for their LegCo duties, were disqualified from the local legislature in Hong Kong with immediate effect.