China has banned a senior parliamentary committee of MPs from entering Hong Kong in a move that will escalate diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

The unprecedented move to bar members of the Foreign Affairs Committee from Britain’s former colony was communicated to the chair of the committee, Sir Richard Ottaway, by China’s deputy ambassador.

He tonight accused the Chinese authorities of acting in an “overtly confrontational manner” in threatening to deport them if the group enters the country and described the move as a “very serious matter”. He said he would call on Monday for an emergency debate in Parliament.

The Foreign Office also said it had raised the issue at “the most senior levels” in Beijing and said banning the MPs was “not consistent” with the positive trend in UK-China relations.

In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Show all 32 1 /32 In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Pro-democracy protesters make gestures to the police outside Central Government Complex, 1 December EPA In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Pro-democracy protesters build barricades at the bottom of an escalator outside Central Government Complex, 1 December Getty In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Police and protesters scuffle near the office of the Chief Executive in Hong Kong as clashes erupt again on 1 December Reuters In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests An injured protester lies prostrate on the ground as chaos surges around her on 1 December AP In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Thousands of protesters gathered in Hong Kong's Victoria Square to commemorate the anniversary of Tiananmen Square in June Reuters In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests A protester raises his umbrellas in front of tear gas fired by riot police in the main street to Hong Kong's financial Central district in September REUTERS In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Police officers stand guard during clashes with pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong on September 28, 2014 AFP/Getty In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Police officers stand in a cloud of tear gas during a demonstration in Hong Kong on September 28, 2014 AFP/Getty In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests A demonstrator gestures opposite policemen during a pro-democracy protest in Hong Kong on 28 September 2014 AFP/Getty In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests A man's face is doused with water after police fired tear gas at protesters on 28 September 2014 Getty In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Riot police stand guard outside of the Hong Kong Government Building on 28 September 2014 Getty In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests A protester walks in tear gas fired by riot policemen on 28 September 2014 Reuters In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Protesters hold umbrellas against a line of police officers near the government headquarters in Hong Kong on 28 September 2014 Getty In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests A protester raises his umbrellas in front of tear gas fired by riot police on 28 September 2014 Reuters In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests housands of demonstrators storm onto a highway after breaking through police cordons during ongoing pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong on 28 September 2014 Getty In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Protesters disperse as riot police fire teargas outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong on 28 September 2014 Reuters In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Demonstrators surround cars and block roads on 28 September 2014 Reuters In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Police use pepper spray as they clash with protesters jamming the main street to the financial Central district outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong on 28 September 2014 Reuters In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Protesters wear masks and goggles to protect themselves from pepper spray while blocking a police car outside the government headquarters on 28 September 2014 AP In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy supporter Jimmy Lai attends a rally near the government headquarters in Hong Kong on 28 September 2014 AFP In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests The sign for the Hong Kong central government offices is seen crossed out on 28 September 2014 In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Policemen stand behind a fence decorated with yellow ribbons during a demonstration on 28 September 2014 AFP In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Hong Kong's Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying (C) and Chief Secretary Carrie Lam (R) attend a press conference in Hong Kong on 28 September 2014 Getty In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Food and beverages are provided free to protesters during a demonstration outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong on 28 September 2014 Getty In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Protestors tie up barricades during a demonstration outside the headquarters of the Legislative Counsel on 28 September 2014 Getty In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Thousands of protesters attend a rally outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong as riot police stand guard on 27 September 2014 Reuters In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Students demonstrate against China's decision not to allow a completely free election in Hong Kong in 2017 EPA In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Protesters are dragged away by police after storming into government headquarters in Hong Kong on 27 September 2014 Reuters In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Protesters clash with riot police in Hong Kong on 27 September 2014 Getty In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Students and police clashed in demonstrations against China's decision not to allow a completely free election in Hong Kong in 2017 on 27 September Reuters In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests A protester holds up placards which reads "Occupy Central" (L) and "Civil Disobedience" (R) Reuters In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Protesters chant slogans in front of the police Reuters

This is the latest diplomatic clash between the UK and China after the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, summoned the ambassador to meet him over concerns about how the protests in Hong Kong were being handled.

The Chinese government has been attempting to suppress activists who are demanding free elections for the city’s next leader in 2017, not a vote between pre-screened candidates that Beijing has said it will allow.

On Sunday night, thousands of pro-democracy activists clashed with police as they tried to encircle government headquarters, defying orders to retreat after more than two months of demonstrations.

Scores of protesters with wooden shields and metal barricades charged police as officers warned them to retreat. Police, who have been accused of using excessive force, struck demonstrators with batons to push them back.

The clashes come at the end of a week in which Hong Kong authorities began a concerted push against the occupations, clearing the camp at Mong Kok, on the Kowloon peninsula. The clearance operation involved violent clashes and more than 150 arrests.

The British MPs were due to arrive in Hong Kong later this month to meet with pro-democracy activists as well as the Hong Kong Government. This was part of its investigation into UK’s relations with Hong Kong 30 years after the Joint Declaration was signed that handed the colony back to China.

Last week a visit by a cross-party group of parliamentarians to China, led by Peter Mandelson, was cancelled at the last minute after Beijing refused to grant a visa to a Conservative MP who had organised a debate on the pro-democracy protests.

Mr Ottaway said he first became aware of Chinese concerns about the visit in August when he was called to see the Chinese ambassador to London. “I expected it to be a civil conversation,” he said.

“But it was pretty abrasive and confrontational. He said we were meddling in the internal affairs of another country. He said we should cancel our inquiry and said we wouldn’t be welcome in Hong Kong.

“We considered it would be an abrogation of our responsibilities not to continue with the inquiry. We let it be known that we intended to visit in the third week in December and the rhetoric went up a gear.

“Last week they told us it would be perceived we would be siding with the protesters who occupy central and other illegal activities. Then on Friday afternoon the deputy ambassador came and told me we would not be allowed into Hong Kong. I told him they were making a mistake.” Mr Ottaway said the move raised questions about Beijing’s stance towards Hong Kong. “It is flagging up the direction of travel of China on these issues which may not be welcome to the rest of the world.”

He added: “I do question if they have the power to ban us as immigration is devolved to the Hong Kong authorities. That questions whether they are abandoning the one country two systems approach.”

In a statement, the Foreign Office said it was deeply concerned by the ban. “It is not consistent with the positive trend in UK-China relations over the past year, including the recognition during Premier Li’s visit to London in June that the UK and China have considerable shared interests in respect of Hong Kong,” said a spokeswoman.