HONG KONG — The West has been using the freedom of the press as a political tool to make excuses for anti-China organizations, and smearing and attacking the rule of law in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to advocate the so-called "chilling effect," a spokesperson of the Commissioner's Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR has said.

The spokesperson on Thursday night blasted statements made by the United States, Britain and the European Union after a Hong Kong court convicted two former editors of the now-defunct online news outlet Stand News of conspiring to publish seditious articles.

READ MORE: Liaison office opposes smearing attacks on Hong Kong's rule of law

The court's decision safeguarded national security and the rule of law in Hong Kong, the spokesperson said, adding that press freedom in Hong Kong has been better protected under a safe and stable environment following the implementation of the national security laws.

The spokesperson also urged relevant politicians to stop harboring criminals or interfering in the HKSAR's judicial and internal affairs.