Screenshot of a statement from the Chinese Embassy in the UK

 
The Chinese Embassy in the UK issued a statement on Monday strongly opposing and condemning the unjustified action by the UK side after UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper 

openly commented on the conviction of Jimmy Lai and smeared the National Security Law for Hong Kong. 

Lai is by no means the peaceful advocate for free speech that the UK claims; his actions have severely undermined the bottom line of the "One Country, Two Systems" principle, endangered national security, and harmed the prosperity, stability, and welfare of Hong Kong's citizens. Such serious crimes should be met with severe punishment under the law, the embassy's spokesperson said. 

"The UK condemns the politically motivated prosecution of Jimmy Lai that has resulted in today's guilty verdict," Cooper claimed in a statement. 

The UK official made irresponsible remarks on the conviction of Jimmy Lai and smeared the National Security Law for Hong Kong. This blatantly interferes in China's internal affairs and tramples on the rule of law, and seriously violates the basic norms governing international relations. We strongly oppose and condemn such an unjustified move by the UK side, the Chinese embassy said. 

Extensive facts revealed during the trial of this case fully prove that Jimmy Lai was the primary planner and participant in a series of anti-China riots in Hong Kong, a pawn for external anti-China forces, and the behind-the-scenes instigator of the turbulence over the amendment bill in Hong Kong, the embassy said in a post published on its website. 

He publicly begged foreign countries to impose sanctions on China and the HKSAR, brazenly proclaimed "fighting for the US," colluded with "Hong Kong independence" and "violent riots" organizations as well as foreign forces, abused media tools to incite hatred and intensify confrontation, and drummed up support for violent activities, in an attempt to destabilize Hong Kong and pursue a "color revolution." His crimes are numerous and substantiated by evidence, the embassy noted. 

Lai's doing was by no means what the UK side claimed to be "peacefully" exercising his right to freedom of expression. His actions seriously challenged the "One Country, Two Systems" bottom line, gravely endangered national security, and severely undermined Hong Kong's prosperity, stability, and the well-being of its citizens. Such serious crimes deserve severe punishment under the law, the embassy said. 

Safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests is the highest principle of the "One Country, Two Systems" policy. The National Security Law is a necessary measure to protect national security. Hong Kong is a society underpinned by the rule of law, where laws must be observed and violations must be punished, the embassy stressed.

The HKSAR has handled the case of Jimmy Lai in strict accordance with the law, upholding the authority and dignity of the rule of law and fulfilling its constitutional duty to safeguard national security, thereby earning broad recognition and support. The trial of the Jimmy Lai case has been conducted openly and transparently, with fair and impartial procedures. This is beyond any question or reproach, the embassy said. 

Hong Kong has long returned to China and British colonial rule in Hong Kong has been put to an end long ago. Hong Kong-related affairs are purely China's internal affairs. The UK is in no position and has no right to point fingers at or interfere in Hong Kong-related affairs, according to the embassy. 

The UK side's attempt to interfere in Hong Kong's judicial affairs will only further expose its sinister motive to destabilize Hong Kong, will only arouse universal indignation within the Hong Kong society, and will get nowhere, it noted. 

We urge the UK side to immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong's judicial affairs and China's internal affairs, stop making the case for anti-China rioters bent on destabilizing Hong Kong, and stop going further down the wrong path, the embassy added.