The diplomatic tensions came after pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai was sentenced for 20 years in one of the city's most prominent prosecutions.

Lai, who had pleaded not guilty to all charges, was among the first prominent figures arrested under Beijing's security law in August 2020.

Rights groups condemned the 78-year-old's 20-year prison term, calling it 'effectively a death sentence' and a grave injustice. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US…