HONG KONG - The Department of Justice (DoJ) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said on Friday that the demands for the immediate release of those who admitted to their wrongdoing by pleading guilty to their criminal act or were convicted after trial by the court were absurd.

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Baseless attacks on sentences imposed by the court, which properly and aptly exercises judicial power independently as guaranteed under the HKSAR Basic Law, manifest a total disrespect to the rule of law, said the Department of Justice

The department made the remark in response to the comments from overseas politicians concerning the sentences of a case imposed by a local court, saying the demands were in violation of international laws and the basic principle of non-intervention.

The case involved nine defendants who were jointly charged with organizing and knowingly taking part in an unauthorized assembly, with two of the defendants pleaded guilty before trial while the remaining seven were convicted of all the charges by the court on April 1, the department said in a statement.

Baseless attacks on sentences imposed by the court, which properly and aptly exercises judicial power independently as guaranteed under the HKSAR Basic Law, manifest a total disrespect to the rule of law. Statements that create a real risk of prejudice to court proceedings in that the public confidence in the due administration of justice is undermined may amount to contempt of court, the department said.

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The HKSAR government has repeatedly pointed out that where a defendant pleads guilty or is found guilty after trial, it is the court's duty to impose a just and appropriate sentence, applying the relevant principles to the circumstances of the crime and those of the offender. It is crucial that where there is any dissatisfaction over the sentences imposed by the courts, any redress ought to be taken up by means of an appeal or review, the department said.