The spokesperson for the Commissioner’s Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR strongly disapproved and firmly rejected the irresponsible comments of a spokesperson of the US State Department and a few US congressmen on the HKSAR court’s law-based judgment on the Jimmy Lai’s fraud case and on the human rights and the rule of law situation in Hong Kong. We urge external forces to refrain from interfering in the judiciary of the SAR and in any other Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs under the pretext of human rights.

The spokesperson said that the rule of law is a cornerstone of Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability, and Hong Kong residents’ lawful rights and freedoms of speech, press and association are all fully protected. However, rights and freedoms must not be an excuse for criminal acts, an “immunity passport” for law-breakers, or a privilege for anti-China forces in Hong Kong. No one is above the law no matter what their background is or what forces are behind them. In Jimmy Lai’s fraud case, evidence is clear, the procedure is law-based, and the judgment is open and transparent. The trial by the SAR court is totally legitimate and lawful and it brooks no interference or reproach.

The spokesperson pointed out that the Jimmy Lai’s case is an ordinary criminal case, but the US waded into it and accused the Chinese Government and the HKSAR Government of “not respecting the freedom of the press” just because the case involves an anti-China criminal, which only makes the whole world see clearly the identity of Jimmy Lai as an “agent” and a “pawn” of the US. The US often claims to stand up for fairness, justice and the rule of law, but it repeatedly sugarcoats criminals as “human rights pioneers”, smears the fair trial of HKSAR courts, and supports anti-China forces in Hong Kong. In doing so, the US is putting political manipulation over the laws of the SAR, and using human rights as a tool for political stunt and interests export. It is in no position to call itself a defender of human rights.

The spokesperson stressed that Hong Kong is part of China and Hong Kong affairs are purely China’s internal affairs. No slander of external forces can stop Hong Kong’s transformation from chaos to stability and prosperity, damage the bright prospects of Hong Kong’s development, or impede the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Relevant countries and politicians must recognize the situation, abide by the principles of international law and the basic norms governing international relations such as non-interference in others’ internal affairs, and earnestly respect the spirit of the rule of law. We also urge them to immediately stop their futile efforts to whitewash criminals, stop vilifying Hong Kong’s human rights and the rule of law, and withdraw their “black hands” that interfere in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs.