Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, said on Monday his government supported China's diplomatic policy towards Japan and the financial hub would closely monitor the situation and respond appropriately.
The comments are the first time a Hong Kong official has publicly weighed in on a dispute that has roiled China-Japan ties for more than two weeks.
The spat was triggered by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks in parliament on November 7 that a hypothetical Chinese attack on democratically-governed Taiwan could trigger a military response from Tokyo.
"These extremely erroneous remarks have severely deteriorated the atmosphere for exchanges between China and Japan," Lee said at a media briefing. "It makes us doubt the effectiveness of many exchanges."
On Sunday, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said it was "shocking" for Japan's leader to send a wrong signal on Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, although the island's government rejects those claims.
Hong Kong had halted exchanges with Japan's consulate, Japanese news agency Kyodo said on Sunday.
Lee did not directly respond to a query about whether Hong Kong had suspended exchanges, saying, "Our arrangement must be aligned with the nation's dignity and the benefits of Hong Kongers."
Japan is a top destination for Hong Kong residents
The city's security bureau updated its travel advisory for Japan on November 15, urging residents visiting or living in Japan to remain vigilant and take safety precautions. Japan is one of the top destinations for Hong Kong residents, with close to 150 daily flights between the Chinese-controlled city and 13 Japanese cities during peak seasons such as the Lunar New Year.
About 2.68 million Hong Kong residents visited Japan last year, accounting for 7.3% of total foreign visitors, according to Japanese tourism data.
Hong Kong Airlines, including Cathay Pacific 0293. HK has said in the past two weeks that they will provide travelers to Japan with options to rebook or adjust their itineraries.