WASHINGTON - China on Thursday rejected US criticism over Hong Kong government's handling of the case involving former US spy agency contractor Edward Snowden, saying it was in accordance with law.

Speaking at a joint press conference at end of the two-day fifth China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED), Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi said China has always respected Hong Kong's handling of legal matters in accordance with law, including the case of Snowden, who left the city for Russia on June 23 after exposing the US massive phone and Internet surveillance and spying operations on other countries including China.

"The Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) government has handled the Snowden case in accordance with law, and its approach is beyond reproach. Others should respect this," Yang said.

He was responding to the remarks made by US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, who said the US government is "very disappointed with how the authorities in Beijing and Hong Kong handled the Snowden case."