In Beijing, Ministry of Commerce spokesman Gao Feng said on Thursday that Hong Kong's separate customs territory was not granted by any individual government, but was widely recognized by members of the World Trade Organization.

It was conferred by the central government and the Basic Law of Hong Kong, as well as the multilateral rules of the WTO, Gao said.

The central government will firmly support the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in maintaining its separate customs territory and resolutely opposes the interference of external forces in the region's affairs, he said.

If the US disregards the basic norms of international relations and adopts unilateral measures in accordance with its domestic laws, it violates WTO rules and this is not in the interests of the US itself, he added.

"We will unswervingly follow the 'one country, two systems' principle to support the Hong Kong SAR's development," he said, adding that the central government will firmly support the HKSAR in consolidating and enhancing its status as an international financial, trade and shipping center.