The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government said today it strongly opposes malicious attacks, false statements and smears against the Hong Kong SAR made by the US and other western countries, as well as anti-China media, organisations and politicians, following the conviction of Lai Chee-ying.

In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government stressed the court’s judgment was made strictly in accordance with the law and evidence, and that biased statements and malicious smears relating to the case disregard the rule of law. It added that such statements and smears reflect that the national security risks faced by the city are real.

The Hong Kong SAR Government said that external forces showed no respect towards the court’s independent judgment of the case, which was made on the basis of facts and evidence, and refused to acknowledge the evidence against Mr Lai and the rationale for the verdict. Such forces chose to let politics trump the law by slandering and attacking the Hong Kong SAR Government, confounding right and wrong, it added.

The statement highlighted that the court’s verdict clearly stated that Mr Lai was not on trial for his political views or beliefs. It said the 855-page document explaining the reasons for court’s conviction of Mr Lai and three defendant companies, and outlining its analysis of the relevant legal principles and evidence, is fully open to the public.

The court found that Lai’s only intent, whether before or after the enactment of the Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL), was to seek the downfall of the Communist Party of China, even at the sacrifice of the interests of the people of Hong Kong and China.

The statement also outlined that the court found that written articles under consideration were objectively seditious and written with a view to bringing the Hong Kong SAR Government into hatred and contempt and to exciting disaffection against it.

The court also found that Lai consciously used Apple Daily and his personal influence to carry out a consistent campaign to undermine the legitimacy or authority of the Central People’s Government and the Hong Kong SAR Government and harm the relations between them and with the people of Hong Kong.

The statement said that various countries, as well as anti-China media, organisations and politicians, attempted to smear the Hong Kong SAR Government and Hong Kong SAR courts by alleging political persecution against Lai, while choosing to ignore the reality that the court’s conviction was well-founded, reasoned, and made strictly in accordance with the law and evidence, free from any interference or political considerations.

The Hong Kong SAR Government also stressed that Lai’s case had nothing to do with freedom of the press.

It said that some media organisations, and organisations that claim to represent journalists, have conflated criminal acts in this case with freedom of the press, with the purpose of misleading the public and defaming the Hong Kong SAR’s human rights and rule of law.

It added that, over the years, the defendants used journalism as a guise to commit acts that brought harm to Hong Kong and the country, with the court proceedings revealing Lai’s hands-on control of the editorial direction of Apple Daily and his repeated and personal collusion with foreign forces, whom he begged for sanctions and hostile actions against the central authorities and the Hong Kong SAR Government.

The statement iterated that Hong Kong citizens enjoy freedom of the press and freedom of speech as protected under the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights.

It outlined that the HKNSL and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security. It said the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong people under the Basic Law and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civic & Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights as applied to the Hong Kong SAR, including freedom of the press, freedom of speech and freedom of publication, are protected in accordance with the law.

The Hong Kong SAR Government also emphasised that, just as in other places in the world, journalists in Hong Kong, like all other citizens, have an obligation to abide by the law.

It highlighted that according to the principles established by Article 19 of the ICCPR, the European Convention on Human Rights, and other relevant jurisprudence, when the media and journalists publish opinions, information and articles, they must observe and discharge “special duties and responsibilities”, including protection of national security and public order. It said that journalists must, in accordance with the tenets of “responsible journalism”, act in good faith on an accurate factual basis and provide reliable and precise information, so as to be entitled to the protection of freedom of speech.

The Hong Kong SAR Government also reiterated that Lai Chee-ying used his media outlet, Apple Daily, to wantonly create social conflict, incite social antagonism, incite hatred, glorify violence and openly beg for foreign sanctions against China and the Hong Kong SAR. It said he had harmed the fundamental interests of the country and the well-being of the people of Hong Kong through actions that were shameful and malicious.

The statement added that righteousness has been upheld by the law and the core values of Hong Kong safeguarded by the court’s verdict. It said the law never allows anyone, regardless of profession or background, to harm their country and compatriots under the guise of human rights, democracy, and freedom.

The Hong Kong SAR said it has a responsibility to safeguard national security, and will continue to resolutely combat acts and activities endangering national security, and to ensure that laws are observed and strictly enforced so as to bring offenders to account.