The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today said it strongly disapproved of and firmly rejected the scandalising of Hong Kong’s criminal justice process, including cases concerning the National Security Law, by some groups and members of the US Congress.

Any attempt to interfere with the city’s judicial proceedings is a blatant act undermining Hong Kong’s rule of law, it said in a press statement.

As guaranteed by the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights, all defendants charged with a criminal offence have the right to and will undergo a fair trial by the Judiciary. Specifically, Article 85 of the Basic Law guarantees that Hong Kong courts shall exercise judicial power independently, free from any interference.

The Hong Kong SAR Government stressed that the courts decide cases strictly in accordance with the evidence and all applicable laws, adding that cases will never be handled any differently owing to the profession, political beliefs or background of the people involved.