The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government on Tuesday lashed out at the Hong Kong Journalists Association and the anti-China foreign media outlets for whitewashing Jimmy Lai Chee-ying under the disguise of democracy to mislead the public.

In a strongly worded statement, the government said the association, which lacks credibility, legitimacy and representativeness, has been deliberately misleading the public, intentionally confusing Lai’s criminal behavior with press freedom.

It said the dissemination of misleading and false statements reveals a fundamental lack of respect for the independent adjudication of the case by the SAR court based on facts and evidence. Critics also refuse to acknowledge the various pieces of evidence listed in the verdict and reject an understanding of the court’s considerations and reasoning while launching reckless attacks, slandering targeting the SAR government, a spokesperson said.

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“This constitutes a blatant trampling of the spirit of the rule of law, elevating politics above the law, distorting facts, and reversing right and wrong,” the spokesperson said.

Lai’s conviction on national security-related charges is not based on his political views or belief, and the court’s 855-page ruling has detailed all the grounds behind the judgment.

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“Lai’s case has nothing to do with press freedom whatsoever. Over the years, Lai and other defendants in the case had used news reporting as a cover to engage in actions that harm the nation and undermine Hong Kong. Lai is, in fact, the driving force behind a series of incidents aimed at destabilizing China and disrupting the HKSAR, serving as nothing short of an agent for external anti-China forces,” the spokesperson added.

“The public trial has revealed that Jimmy Lai had closely managed and personally directed the editorial policies of Apple Daily with one senior executive, even describing it as operating under a ‘cage-like’ autonomy.

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The SAR government urged the HKJA and anti-China foreign media outlets to face the facts sooner rather than later, return to the right path, and immediately cease all forms of infiltration on behalf of external forces, as well as subversive activities aimed at brainwashing young people in the region.

The SAR government will absolutely not tolerate any acts that incite the public to betray national and people’s interests, thereby endangering national security, the statement said.