The United States is “overstretching the concept of national security” with its threat to oust HKT International from the country’s telecommunication network, Hong Kong authorities have said.

Political commentators also warned on Thursday that Beijing would interpret the move as Washington using the city as a “chess piece against China”.

Hong Kong’s Office of the Communications Authority said the government “strongly disapproves of the United States’ overstretching the concept of national security in targeting Hong Kong enterprises without providing any factual basis”.

A spokesman for the office added that Washington’s acts disrupted the international economic and trade order, and called on US authorities to treat Hong Kong enterprises operating in the country “with fairness”.

“Hong Kong has always been a staunch supporter of free trade. We oppose any country imposing measures or restrictions that hinder normal trade and business operations,” he said.

A day earlier, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said it had sent what it called the “Communist Party-controlled” HKT International an order to justify why it should not be revoked from providing international and domestic services to and from the United States.