HKSAR govt expresses strong dissatisfaction, opposition to US, Western countries, anti-China groups for malicious attacks following verdict of Jimmy Lai
The Golden Bauhinia Square in Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government expressed late Monday evening strong dissatisfaction with and opposition to the US and Western countries, anti-China media, organizations and politicians for their malicious attacks, false statements, and smears against the HKSAR, following the Hong Kong High Court’s conviction judgment in Jimmy Lai’s case, which was made strictly in accordance with the law and evidence.
Some international organizations, in addition to countries like the UK, Germany and the US, openly made remarks on the conviction of Lai, an instigator of anti-China riots in Hong Kong, who was found guilty on two charges of conspiring to collude with external forces and a charge of conspiracy to publish seditious materials. They also smeared the National Security Law for Hong Kong.
These biased statements and malicious smears from external forces precisely reflect that the national security risks we face are real. External forces showed no respect in the HKSAR court's independent judgment of the case, which had been made on the basis of facts and evidence, the HKSAR government’s spokesperson said.
They also refused to acknowledge the evidence set out in the reasons for verdict, and refused to understand the court's considerations and rationale for the verdict. Instead, they wantonly launched attacks, slandered and attacked the HKSAR government. With the external forces distorting facts and confounding right and wrong, their malicious intentions are clearly revealed. We must sternly denounce their wrongdoings to set the record straight, the spokesperson said.
The court's conviction verdict was entirely free from any political considerations, Lai's case has nothing to do with freedom of the press at all and Lai undermined the fundamental interests of the country and the well-being of Hong Kong citizens, the spokesperson said.
The HKSAR's High Court on Monday morning found Jimmy Lai, an instigator of anti-China riots in Hong Kong, guilty on two charges of conspiring to collude with external forces and a charge of conspiracy to publish seditious materials.
Relevant countries, anti-China media, organizations and politicians would only smear the HKSAR government and HKSAR courts with empty slogans, alleging the so-called political persecution of Lai. Yet, they dare not face the fact that the court's conviction verdict is well-founded and reasoned, fully demonstrating that the court has made its decision on the case strictly in accordance with the law and evidence, free from any interference, and absolutely free of any political considerations, the HKSAR government’s spokesperson said.
Lai has long been using his media outlet, Apple Daily, to wantonly create social conflicts, incite social antagonism, incite hatred, glorify violence and openly beg for foreign sanctions against China and the HKSAR, attracting external interference, the spokesperson continued.
Lai has harmed the fundamental interests of the country and the well-being of the people of Hong Kong; his actions are shameful and his intentions malicious. His wanton crimes were committed in full view of the public and the evidence is compelling. The court's conviction demonstrates that righteousness is upheld by the law and the core values of Hong Kong are safeguarded, the spokesperson continued.
The law never allows anyone, regardless of profession or background, to harm their country and compatriots under the guise of human rights, democracy, and freedom, the spokesperson added.
Global Times
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