Hong Kong ban a ‘setback’ in UK-China relations

China has barred U.K. lawmakers from visiting protest-hit Hong Kong, in what the chair of the Britain's Foreign Affairs Committee branded a "setback" for Anglo-Chinese relations.

Richard Ottoway and his colleagues at the Foreign Affairs Committee had planned to visit the foremer U.K. colony to investigate pro-democracy protestors' complaints.

However, China has warned that the visitors would be banned from entering Hong Kong.

Ottoway told CNBC that China's move was detrimental to diplomatic relations, which had been on an improving trend since a low point in 2012 when the U.K. Prime Minister offended Chinese leaders by meeting with Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

Hong Kong is in the grip of violent protests, in what may be the biggest challenge to China's Communist Party since the infamous crackdown of 1989 in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.