Hong Kong’s security chief has said the court's judgment in the Jimmy Lai Chee-ying case illustrates that the rule of law in Hong Kong is robust, criminal acts will never be tolerated and no one is above the law.

Talking about the court’s sentencing the former media tycoon to 20 years’ imprisonment, Chris Tang Ping-keung said at a media session Monday afternoon that the heavy sentence clearly reflects the very serious nature of the offenses committed by Lai.

“The court pointed out that Lai Chee-ying was the mastermind and driving force in the case. He has colluded with foreign forces to beg for sanctions against his country. The court has emphasized that Lai had harbored his resentment and hatred of China for years.

“His only intent was to seek the downfall of the Chinese Communist Party and even though the ultimate cost would be the sacrifice of the people of China and that of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,” added the secretary for security.

The court held that the offense of "conspiracy to print, publish, sell, offer for sale, distribute, display and/or reproduce seditious publications" in this case fell within the most serious category of its type, and the two offenses of "conspiracy to commit collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security" fell within the category of offenses of a grave nature.

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“If you look at the judgment, in fact, for each of the conspiracy to commit collusion offenses, the sentence has been increased from 15 years to 18 years with an additional sentence of three years. It is because the court has considered the grave nature of the case,” said the secretary.

In the reasons for the sentence, the court pointed out the offenses took place at a time when Hong Kong had hardly recovered from the social turmoil caused by the black-clad violence. The conspiracies were meticulously planned, involved multiple parties and were clearly premeditated.

Even after the enactment of the Hong Kong National Security Law, the defendants continued with their crimes for some time until after they were arrested by the police.

“The heavy sentence clearly reflects the very serious nature of the offense committed by Lai Chee-ying. The court's judgment illustrates that the rule of law in Hong Kong is robust, criminal acts will never be tolerated and no one is above the law,” added Tang.

He emphasized that both the reasons for the verdict and the sentence handed down fully demonstrate that the court has arrived at the judgment in strict accordance with the law and the evidence, not with any underlying matters of political, policies or other non-legal considerations.

Replying to a question regarding a statement from Lai’s family that he holds a British passport, the secretary for security said: “Lai Chee-ying, according to the law of Hong Kong and the law of China, is a Chinese, and we do not recognize dual nationality. Being a Chinese who committed an offense in Hong Kong, China, he serves his sentence in Hong Kong, China, which is a very logical stance.”

Although Lai and other defendants will face legal sanctions they deserve, Hong Kong is still facing national security risks, he said, adding that the HKSAR government will continue to unwaveringly and fearlessly prevent, suppress and punish acts and activities that endanger national security in accordance with the law.