HONG KONG, May 14 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Monday lodged serious representations to Britain over an announcement made by British police on charging three men for allegedly violating Britain's National Security Act.

The HKSAR government demanded the matter to be fairly handled and the normal operation of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London unaffected.

The British police on Monday made an announcement on charging three men, including Chinese citizens, with allegedly assisting Hong Kong's foreign intelligence service.

The Chinese Embassy in Britain has issued a statement and made serious representations to the British side on the matter, the HKSAR government said in a statement issued on Monday evening, demanding the British government to provide full details of relevant information on the alleged matter concerned, and the latter's response is awaited.

The duties of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London are to maintain close liaison with interlocutors in the local government, business, think tanks and various sectors, with a view to enriching bilateral ties in different areas such as trade, investment, arts and culture, enhancing local people and enterprises' knowledge of Hong Kong's unique strengths, and promoting the economic and trade interests of Hong Kong, the statement said.

The HKSAR government, it added, has seriously demanded the British side to fairly handle the matter, effectively protect the legitimate rights and interests of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office's Office manager who was alleged to be involved, and ensure that the normal work of the Economic and Trade Office is not affected.

Also on Monday evening, the Commissioner's Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR issued a statement, deploring the British side for trumping up charges, arbitrarily arresting Chinese citizens and slandering the HKSAR government.

"Such a move violates the principles of international law and basic norms governing international relations. The Chinese side expresses strong disapproval and firm opposition to the UK's fabrication of the charges and its unwarranted accusation against the HKSAR government," the statement said.

The Commissioner's Office pointed out that the British National Security Act has been widely criticized for its vague definition and broad authorization of law enforcement agencies. Under the pretext of national security, the British side ignored basic human rights and made arbitrary arrests and detention, which is not only against the spirit of the rule of law, but also a naked political manipulation. The Britian's sinister intention of interfering in Hong Kong affairs and colluding with anti-China elements is laid bare.

"We strongly urge the British side to ensure all legitimate rights and interests of relevant personnel and stop fabricating charges, making provocations and trampling on the rule of law spirit in the name of national security," the statement said.

Britian must cease and desist, immediately correct wrongdoings, stop any slander against Chinese citizens based on the presumption of guilt, and stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs, otherwise the Chinese side will take resolute countermeasures, it added.