China to impose tit-for-tat visa restrictions on US officials over Hong Kong

Hong Kong (CNN)China will impose visa restrictions on certain United States individuals in response to Washington's move last week to place similar limits on Chinese officials over Hong Kong. Visa restrictions will be imposed on certain Americans with "egregious conduct relating to Hong Kong," Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Zhao Lijian said Monday.

He added that attempts by Washington "to obstruct China's legislation for safeguarding national security in Hong Kong," by imposing sanctions against officials in the city and Beijing "will never succeed."

"The national security law for Hong Kong is purely China's internal affairs and foreign countries have no right to interfere," Zhao said. China's National People's Congress is currently in the final stages of drafting the law -- details of which have not been revealed -- and is expected to pass it this week, perhaps even by Tuesday.

When reporters asked which "US individuals" might be affected by the new visa restrictions, Zhao said: "I believe these relevant people know that very well."