Department of Justice (HK GOVERNMENT)

HONG KONG – Hong Kong's Department of Justice said on Saturday that it takes strong exception to the ill-founded accusations made by overseas individuals against the city's robust judicial and legal systems. 

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In a statement emailed to China Daily, the department said it has reiterated on a number of occasions that the public is entitled to, within the permissible legal boundaries, express opinions on court’s decisions or related matters.

Any accusation or attack launched with a malicious attempt to exert undue influence on our prosecution or the Judiciary would be in vain and should be vehemently deplored.

Department of Justice, HKSAR

"In doing so, however, they must also respect judicial independence and should never baselessly accuse the Judiciary of giving 'into pressure' when reaching a decision," according to the statement.

The Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal issued a press statement on July 2, clearly expressing that in "the handling or determination of any legal dispute, only the law and legal principle will be considered", according to the statement.

The DOJ has always been discharging its constitutional duty strictly in accordance with the law, it said.

The defamatory remarks against the DOJ not only expose the political conspiracies of certain individuals, but also lack of basis and even disrespects the rule of law, according to the statement.

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"Any accusation or attack launched with a malicious attempt to exert undue influence on our prosecution or the Judiciary would be in vain and should be vehemently deplored," it said.