HKSAR Government strongly condemns Hong Kong Journalists Association and foreign anti-China media for misleading public and whitewashing Lai Chee-ying
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (December 16) strongly condemned the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) and foreign anti-China media for turning a blind eye to the court's conviction judgment in Lai Chee-ying's case, which was made strictly in accordance with the law and evidence, in an attempt to mislead the public, deliberately whitewash criminal Lai Chee-ying under the cloak of so-called democracy. Their objective is to obscure Lai Chee-ying's shameless acts and subversive work as an agent of external forces to infiltrate and brainwash young people, through manipulating the media to incite the public, the interests of the country and the people.
The Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA)
A HKSAR Government spokesperson said, "The HKJA has no credibility, lacks recognition and representativeness, and the association has even been refusing to disclose the list of its latest executive committee members. It is despicable for an organisation of such a nature to call itself the representative of the press. In fact, the HKJA, as with other foreign anti-China media outlets, has been intentionally misleading the public by consistently and deliberately conflating the criminal acts in Lai Chee-ying's case with freedom of the press. It has even played up with ill intent different cases to discredit the human rights and rule of law situations of the HKSAR, aiming precisely to confuse the public and smear the HKSAR. These are extremely despicable political manipulations that must be strongly condemned.
"Their misleading and false statements reveal that they have entirely no respect for the HKSAR court's independent judgment of the case, which has been made on the basis of facts and evidence. They also refused to acknowledge the evidence set out in the reasons for the 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, flagrantly trampling the rule of law, overriding the rule of law with politics, distorting facts and confounding right and wrong."
Court's conviction verdict was entirely free from any political considerations
The spokesperson reiterated, "The court clearly pointed out in the reasons for verdict that Lai Chee-ying was not on trial for his political views or beliefs. The court's reasons for verdict in this case are 855 pages long, which are fully open for public inspection, and include the court's analysis of the relevant legal principles and evidence, as well as the reasons for convicting Lai Chee-ying and the three defendant companies in full detail."
Lai Chee-ying's case has nothing to do with freedom of the press at all
The spokesperson emphasised, "Lai Chee-ying's case has nothing to do with freedom of the press at all. Over the years, the defendants have used journalism as a guise to commit acts that brought harm to our country and Hong Kong. Lai Chee-ying was fundamentally the mastermind behind a series of anti-China and destabilising activities in Hong Kong, and was no doubt an agent of external anti-China forces. The public trial of this case revealed Lai Chee-ying's close management and hands-on control of the editorial direction of Apple Daily, and one of the senior managers even said they were free within a 'bird cage'.
"Hong Kong citizens enjoy freedom of the press and freedom of speech as protected under the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights. In fact, the Hong Kong National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security. The rights and freedoms, including the freedoms of the press, of speech and of publication, enjoyed by Hong Kong people under the Basic Law and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as applied to the HKSAR, are protected in accordance with the law. Like all other places in the world, journalists, just like all other citizens, have an obligation to abide by all the laws. According to the principles established by Article 19 of the ICCPR, the European Convention on Human Rights and relevant jurisprudence, when the media and journalists publish opinions, information and articles, they must observe and discharge 'special duties and responsibilities', including protection of national security and public order. Journalists must, in accordance with the tenets of 'responsible journalism', act in good faith on accurate factual basis and provide reliable and precise information, so as to be entitled to the protection of freedom of speech and press freedom.
"The HKSAR Government strongly urges the HKJA and other foreign anti-China media to understand the facts relating to Lai Chee-ying's case as soon as possible, and do the right thing to stop any form of infiltration and activities of a subversive nature, including 'brainwashing' young people of the HKSAR for external forces. The HKSAR Government will absolutely not condone any acts endangering national security that incite the public to betray the interests of the country and the people."
The Central Government Offices, Photo source: reference image
