Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told Parliament Monday, that following the "imposition" of the new national security law in Hong Kong by China, the government will suspend its extradition treaty with Hong Kong.
The 30-year-old treaty with the Chinese Island meant that if someone in Hong Kong is suspected of a crime in the United Kingdom, the British authorities can ask Hong Kong to hand them over to face justice - and vice versa.
"There remains considerable uncertainty about the way in which the new national security law will be enforced," Raab told MPs. "I would just say this: the UK is watching and the whole world is watching."
The government recently banned Chinese firm Huawei from the country's 5G network. "We will always protect our vital interests including sensitive infrastructure and we won't accept any investment that compromises our domestic or national security" the Foreign Secretary said.
He however added, "We want a positive relationship with China. There's a huge amount to be gained for both countries, there are many areas, where we can work productively, constructively to mutual benefit together.
"For our part, the UK will work hard and in good faith towards that goal. But we will protect our vital interests, we will stand up for our values, and we will hold China to its international obligations."
In an Interview Sunday Chinese Ambassador to UK Liu Xiaoming flailed and rambled while denying reports about the communist regime's abuse of its Uigur population in China's Xinjiang region. Raab speaking to MPs, raised his "grave concerns" about the "gross human rights abuses."
Raab informed MPs, the government would extend its arms embargo - which has been in place with China since 1989 - to Hong Kong, stopping the UK exporting equipment, such as firearms, smoke grenades and shackles, to the region.
He also confirmed plans for a path to UK citizenship for around three million Hong Kong people would be in place by early 2021, in response to the law.
Opposition Labor Party leaders hailed government's decision. Shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy said Labour "strongly welcomed" the decision.
"Our quarrel is not with the people of China, but the erosion of freedoms in Hong Kong, the actions of the Chinese government in the South China Sea and the appalling treatment of the Uighur people is reason now to act, Nandy said.
Raab's announcement was met with condemnation in China. A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Wang Wenbin, urged Britain to “stop going further down the wrong path.” China had accused the UK government of "brutal meddling", insisting it is committed to upholding international law.
The Foreign Secretary announced the decisions just hours before his US counterpart, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was scheduled to arrive in London.
President Trump last week signed an executive order punishing the communist regime for violating Hong Kong's autonomy.