Central authorities and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government have strongly condemned a European Parliament resolution on the Jimmy Lai Chee-ying case, with national and city officials calling it “distorting and in total disregard of facts”.
The resolution called for the immediate and unconditional release of Lai, founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily tabloid.
Lai was convicted in Hong Kong in December of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security, and of conspiracy to publish seditious publications. The sentences of Lai and his co-defendants will be announced at a later date.
In a strongly worded statement on Friday, the Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong SAR criticized the resolution as slandering Hong Kong's “one country, two systems” principle and its national security legislation, interfering in the trial of Hong Kong’s national security cases, and smearing the city's rule of law.
The office stressed that the affairs of the HKSAR are purely China’s internal matters, and that the trial of national security cases in Hong Kong also falls entirely within the scope of the city’s internal affairs, and no external forces have the right to interfere.
The office also said that the principle of “one country, two systems” has been successfully implemented in Hong Kong, emphasizing that external forces’ attempts to smear Hong Kong will not stop the city’s steady march from stability to prosperity.
The statement added that the HKSAR courts rendered a fair judgment based on substantial and sufficient factual evidence of Lai’s case, leaving no room for criticism.
“No matter how many so-called ‘resolutions’ or ‘reports’ on Hong Kong the European Parliament concocts, they amount to nothing more than worthless pieces of paper,” the office said.
It urged European politicians to recognize reality, mend their ways, strictly abide by the principles of international law and the basic norms of international relations, and immediately cease interfering in HKSAR affairs and meddling in China's internal affairs in any form.
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The HKSAR government on Thursday also denounced the resolution as “baseless accusations” and an attempt to smear the city’s national security laws.
The government spokesperson said the court’s conviction verdict is “well-founded and reasoned” and rejected the European Parliament’s claim that Lai’s conviction infringed on press freedom. The statement also addressed concerns about Lai’s treatment in custody, saying that all detainees receive adequate medical care, including around‑the‑clock healthcare services and specialist consultations when needed.
The spokesperson urged the European Parliament to “understand the facts” and that “it is never too late to mend”, reiterating Hong Kong’s commitment to implementing national security laws while safeguarding residents’ lawful rights and freedoms.
Hong Kong lawmaker Elizabeth Quat Pui-fan said evidence in Lai’s case for colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security was conclusive, and his trial is lawful and justified.
Quat urged the European Parliament to recognize the facts, to cease exploiting the Lai case to smear Hong Kong's rule of law and human rights situation, and to immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs.
