Secretary for Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chris Tang Ping-keung

The conviction of Jimmy Lai demonstrated that anyone who attempts to endanger national security will inevitably be brought to justice, and that court proceedings will uncover the full truth, and a large amount of evidence and testimony presented in court has shown to the public Lai's leading role in planning, organizing, and instigating social unrest in Hong Kong, Secretary for Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chris Tang Ping-keung said on Monday in commenting the latest verdict. 

The HKSAR's High Court ruled on Monday morning that Jimmy Lai, an instigator of anti-China riots in Hong Kong, was found guilty on two charges of conspiring to collude with external forces and a charge of conspiracy to publish seditious materials. 

The public court proceedings clearly demonstrate the seriousness of the case, Tang said, noting that the prosecution presented a massive amount of documentary and video evidence, as well as witness testimony, which unmistakably showed to the public Jimmy Lai's leading role in violent riots, according to Sing Tao Daily. 

Lai and his associates for, over many years, using Apple Daily as a platform to spread false information and fake news, providing a channel for the opposition to smear the central authorities and talk down the government, Tang said. 

Through distorted and one-sided reporting, they misled the public, poisoned the minds of young people, incited hatred, promoted and glorified violence, and provided funding to anti-China and destabilizing elements, supporting so-called "Hong Kong independence" forces. These actions, he said, triggered the 2019 Hong Kong-version color revolution and violent unrest, causing endless suffering to the public, Tang added. 

"Lai is not on trial for his political views and he is free to hold whatever views he likes on politics. However, it would be an entirely different matter if Lai intentionally put his thoughts into action and conducted himself in such a way which was prohibited by law," according to the published judgment on the Hong Kong judiciary website on Monday. 

The court made it clear in its written reasons for judgment that Lai was not tried because of his political views or beliefs, and that he harbored resentment and hostility toward China, Tang said, noting that since the start of the trial, external forces and anti-China, destabilizing elements have continuously distorted the facts and attempted to whitewash the criminal acts of Jimmy Lai and his team with falsehoods.

The court's ruling, Tang said, is well-reasoned and well-founded, fully demonstrating that the judgment was made strictly in accordance with the law and the evidence, free from any interference and without any so-called "political considerations." Tang emphasized that the court proceedings were fair, open, and impartial.

In response to the criticism from the Hong Kong Journalists Association on the verdict on Monday, Tang stressed that Lai has been using journalism as a pretext while in fact engaging in criminal acts that endanger national security. 

The case has absolutely nothing to do with press freedom, and Lai had, for many years, merely used news reporting as a cover to carry out actions that harmed Hong Kong, Tang said, calling Lai's conduct shameful and deserving of punishment. 

Tang also described the Hong Kong Journalists Association as a "journalists' association with no credibility," saying it does not even dare to publish the list of its executive committee, while claiming that some people have been jailed simply for engaging in journalism. 

The court's ruling is "completely unrelated to press freedom," Tang said.