China firmly opposes certain countries and institutions for maliciously smearing the Hong Kong Special Administration Region (HKSAR) and defaming its rule of law by exploring judicial cases in the HKSAR, said a Foreign Ministry spokesman at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.
The High Court of the HKSAR on Monday sentenced Jimmy Lai, an instigator of anti-China riots in Hong Kong, to 20 years in prison.
Lin was responding to a media query about the statements on the Jimmy Lai case made by the United States, Britain, Australia, and the European Union.
"Certain countries and institutions have maliciously smeared the HKSAR, defamed its rule of law, and interfered in China's internal affairs by exploiting judicial cases in the HKSAR. China firmly opposes this and has lodged stern representations with the relevant countries and institutions," said the spokesman.
"Jimmy Lai is the principal mastermind and perpetrator behind the series of major anti-China riots that rocked Hong Kong. The facts and evidence on his crimes endangering national security are clear and solid. The judicial authorities of the HKSAR issued the verdict based on facts and the law. It is lawful, legitimate, and beyond reproach. Hong Kong is a society governed by the rule of law. To abide by the law and bring lawbreakers to justice is a basic principle. No one should be allowed to use 'democracy' or 'freedom' as a pretext to engage in unlawful activities and escape justice," Lin said.
"Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs, and the rule of law in Hong Kong is unshakable. No foreign country has the right to point finger at it. The Chinese government remains unwavering in its resolve to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests, and to implement the 'one country, two systems' principle. Any attempt to disrupt Hong Kong's advancement from stability to greater prosperity, or to sow chaos in Hong Kong in order to contain China, will never succeed," he stressed.
"We urge the relevant parties to respect China's sovereignty, abide by the principles of international law and the basic norms governing international relations, and immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs or meddling in China's internal affairs in any form," Lin added.
China opposes certain countries, institutions for exploring judicial cases to defame HKSAR
