HONG KONG - The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government on Saturday voiced strong opposition to recent remarks by individual members of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee regarding Lai Chee-ying's case and treatment provided to him during his custody, which were absurd and fact-twisting comments intended to pervert the course of justice.

The HKSAR government said that their malicious intentions to smear and attack the HKSAR government and challenge the bottom line of the "one country, two systems" principle are blatantly obvious, and must be sternly denounced to set the record straight.

Relevant US politicians should respect the basic principles of the rule of law and judicial independence, and immediately stop the despicable political manipulation, a spokesperson for the HKSAR government said.

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The HKSAR government will continue to resolutely fulfill the responsibility of safeguarding national security, effectively prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities that endanger national security in accordance with the law, and safeguard the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong people in accordance with the law, the spokesperson said.