The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today issued a strong condemnation of remarks by Consul General of the US to Hong Kong Gregory May, stating that they are untrue, biased and deliberately intended to mislead the public and smear the Hong Kong National Security Law and the Hong Kong SAR’s work to safeguard national security.

In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government stressed that as legal proceedings in the case involving Lai Chee-ying are still ongoing, it is inappropriate for any person to comment on the details of the case. It urged US politicians to immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong’s internal affairs and the independent exercise of judicial power by its courts.

The statement emphasised that governments have an inherent right to enact laws safeguarding national security, in accordance with international law and international practice based on the UN Charter.

It added that as the US has at least 21 laws safeguarding national security, US politicians who point fingers at the Hong Kong SAR’s legal system and enforcement mechanisms display only hypocrisy and double standards while entirely disregarding the constitutional and practical needs of Hong Kong, as well as the positive effects brought about by Hong Kong’s national security legislation on its economic development and protection of human rights.

The Hong Kong SAR Government highlighted that Hong Kong’s law enforcement agencies take actions based on evidence and strictly in accordance with the law, and that such actions have nothing to do the political views, backgrounds or occupations of persons or entities concerned. It added that anyone charged with a criminal offence in Hong Kong will receive a fair trial as protected by the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights.

The statement charged that attempts by any country, organisation, or individual to interfere with the judicial proceedings in Hong Kong to procure a defendant’s evasion of criminal justice amount to blatant acts undermining the rule of law and should be condemned.

It said the notion that people or organisations with certain backgrounds should be immune from legal sanction for their illegal acts is tantamount to granting them privileges to break the law, perverts the course of justice, and runs contrary to the spirit of the rule of law.

The Hong Kong SAR Government also outlined that extraterritorial effect for offences under the National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) fully aligns with the principles of international law and international practice, and is both necessary and legitimate. 

It added that absconders hiding in the US and other Western countries are wanted because they continue to blatantly engage in activities endangering national security, such as inciting secession and requesting that foreign countries impose “sanctions” or blockades and engage in other hostile activities against the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong. Such persons, it emphasised, continue to collude with external forces to cover their evil deeds, making it necessary for Hong Kong’s law enforcement agencies to take all lawful measures to combat these acts. 

The Hong Kong SAR Government said that that it will resolutely, fully and faithfully implement the National Security Law, the SNSO and other relevant laws safeguarding national security to prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities endangering national security.

It added that it will concurrently uphold the rights and freedoms of its people in accordance with the law so as to ensure the steadfast and successful implementation of the principle of “one country, two systems”.