This undated photo shows the Central Government Offices at Tamar, Hong Kong. (PHOTO/HKSAR GOVERNMENT)
HONG KONG - The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government on Thursday strongly opposed the US government's untruthful accusation against a court verdict on the fraud case involving former media mogul Lai Chee-ying.
In a statement issued on Thursday night, the government said the verdict was given in accordance with the law and that the statements issued by the US government were “purely politically oriented”.
In a statement issued on Thursday night, the HKSAR government said the verdict was given in accordance with the law and that the statements issued by the US government were “purely politically oriented”
The HKSAR government also strongly opposed the US’ false accusation, vilification and smearing of the National Security Law for Hong Kong.
"Since the legal proceedings of the case concerned are ongoing, it would not be appropriate to comment on the details of the case. However, we strongly object to the remarks of the United States government which deviate from the truth and are purely politically oriented,” an HKSAR government spokesman was quoted as saying in the statement.
"We strongly urge the United States to immediately stop interfering in the internal affairs of the HKSAR," he added.
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The spokesman said all law enforcement actions are based on evidence and strictly according to the law while the Judiciary exercises judicial power independently and those charged with criminal offenses have the right to a fair hearing.
"The HKSAR government has been steadfastly upholding the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents as protected under the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bills of Rights, including press freedom and freedom of speech,” the spokesman said.
But as internationally recognized, freedom of speech and press freedom “are not absolute” and people who claim to be engaged in journalism, “like other people, cannot be exempted from their obligation to abide by the law,” he said.
"Foreign politicians who deliberately turn a blind eye to the reasons for the court's verdict and make unfair and biased comments on the court’s verdict based merely on the outcomes of cases that are not in line with their political interests not only reveal their ignorance, cowardice, unfairness, arrogance and disregard of the law, but also make their attempts futile," he added.
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The spokesman also said that since the implementation of the NSL on June 30, 2020, the US government has been exploiting different incidents and making up excuses to slander the law and attack China and its HKSAR, “laying bare its overbearing and domineering attitude."
"The thinking of the United States government that to repeat a lie numerous times will turn it into a truth simply reflects its malicious and ill intent. As a matter of fact, since the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law, Hong Kong has moved from chaos to stability, and is steadily heading from stability to prosperity,” he said.
The spokesman said Hong Kong has the “irreplaceably distinct advantages” of enjoying the strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world.
“Any attempt by external forces to undermine Hong Kong's prosperity and stability by slandering the rule of law and freedoms in the HKSAR will only expose their weakness and faulty arguments,” he added.
