📢 This Monday (December 15), the Chinese mainland’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun fired back at what he called “blatant smears” against the judiciary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). His remarks came after Britain and other countries criticized Hong Kong’s legal process following the verdict in the Jimmy Lai case. ⚖️
Earlier this week, the HKSAR High Court found media tycoon Jimmy Lai guilty of two counts of conspiring to collude with external forces and one count of conspiracy to publish seditious materials. Critics from Britain and other countries argue these outcomes threaten Hong Kong’s freedoms—but Guo strongly disagrees. 🏛️
“Hong Kong is a society governed by the rule of law,” Guo said, emphasizing that the central government firmly supports the HKSAR in safeguarding national security and punishing crimes that endanger it. He described the judicial process as “reasonable, justified and lawful.”
Guo also stressed that these legal proceedings are purely the HKSAR’s internal affair. He urged certain countries to respect the Chinese mainland’s sovereignty and the rule of law in Hong Kong, stop making irresponsible remarks, and drop any attempts to interfere in Hong Kong’s judicial system and the Chinese mainland’s internal affairs. 🌐
This exchange highlights the ongoing debate over sovereignty, rule of law, and Hong Kong’s unique “one country, two systems” framework. 🤝
Reference(s):
China opposes smearing Hong Kong judiciary after verdict on Jimmy Lai
cgtn.com
