Full coverage: The South China Sea Issue

Business representatives from Hong Kong and Macao have also expressed their dissatisfaction with the arbitration. Some said the arbitration award disrespects international law and has no positive significance in solving the South China Sea dispute.

"We all think the arbitration taken up by the tribunal is a farce. The arbitration court has no jurisdictional right... as an arbitral agency, it has no legal authority. The South China Sea arbitration is meaningless with no legal effect. We strongly support the series of actions taken by China on the South China issue and firmly stand together with our country on the same front to safeguard national sovereignty," Chen Jingwei, chairman of Hong Kong China Chamber of Commerce, said.
 
"China has indisputable sovereignty and legitimate rights and interests over the South China Sea. The Chinese government has insisted that the common development of peace is a basic policy for solving the dispute. But the precondition of these guidelines is China's sovereignty. No concession and questions should be made on the matter," Lin Longan, VP of Hong Kong China Import & Export Chamber of Commerce, said.

"The attitude of the Chinese government is to not accept, not get involved, because we Chinese think that the Philippines has violated international law, and it is illegal," Wang Jiawei with Global And Public Affairs Research Center of University of Macao said.