Both the United States and the United Kingdom have warned their citizens of a risk of “arbitrary arrest” in Hong Kong due to possible unilateral and arbitrary exercise of police power, in their latest updates to travel advisories on Hong Kong.

The warnings followed China’s installation of a sweeping national security law deemed to curtail the personal security and liberty of Americans and Britons.

The national security legislation, along with the now waning COVID-19 situation in Hong Kong, was singled out in Washington’s heightened travel alert.

“The [People’s Republic of China] government arbitrarily enforces local laws, including by carrying out arbitrary and wrongful detentions and through the use of exit bans on U.S. citizens and citizens of other countries without due process of law,” the U.S. Department of State said on Monday.

“U.S. citizens only become aware of an exit ban when they attempt to depart the PRC, and there is no reliable mechanism or legal process to find out how long the ban might continue.”

American nationals were recommended under the latest “level 3” advisory to “reconsider travel” to Hong Kong, instead of simply exercising “increased caution” when in the city, as was the advice issued in early June in light of COVID-19 and civil unrest.

At the same time, the U.S. also relaxed its travel advisory on mainland China from “do not travel” to “exercise increased caution” following the resumption of most of its business operations.

Mainland China shut the gates to inbound travelers on March 28, and has gradually eased the entry ban since early April.

In Britain, the Foreign Office also advised its nationals against non-essential travel to Hong Kong, but emphasized it was not raising the travel warning level.

“China’s mainland authorities could under certain circumstances detain and try individuals,” the office said. “There is also a risk of arbitrary detention, including of British nationals.”

Several foreigners have been detained in China over recent months, one of the latest cases being Cheng Lei, an Australian television presenter working at state-run Chinese media CGTN. She was arrested in Beijing in mid-August.

Responding to the updated travel warnings, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Wang Wenbin said: “Foreigners are obliged to abide by Chinese laws in China. When formulating travel warnings, the U.S. ought to fully respect the facts and not engage in gratuitous political maneuvers.”

He added that mainland China had taken the most “comprehensive, stringent and thorough” measures to counter the coronavirus pandemic.

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