The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government said today it vehemently opposes a resolution adopted by the European Parliament on Hong Kong, and strongly condemns it for using the Lai Chee-ying case to make baseless allegations about Hong Kong and smear its laws safeguarding national security.

In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government said the European Parliament had made sweepingly generalised and grandstanding comments, completely disregarding the profound historical significance of the National Security Law (NSL) and its undeniably positive impact on Hong Kong.

The statement added that the European Parliament said nothing about the strict enforcement of national security laws by other governments, thereby laying bare its own double standard and despicable political manipulation. It said the European Parliament showed no respect for the independent judgment of Hong Kong’s courts in the Lai Chee-Ying case, and refused to acknowledge the evidence set out in the reasons for the verdict.

The Hong Kong SAR Government stated that it fulfilled its constitutional duty in 2024 by enacting, with broad societal consensus, the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO), thereby improving the city’s legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security. It said the SNSO’s enactment has enabled Hong Kong's transition “from chaos to order” and advancement “from stability to prosperity”.

The statement added that in the five years of its implementation the NSL has restored the rights and freedoms Hong Kong citizens could not enjoy during the “black-clad violence” period, and returned livelihoods and the city’s business environment back to normal.

With regard to the conviction of Lai Chee-Ying, the statement said the verdict was entirely free from any political considerations.

It outlined that the court made clear in a well-founded and reasoned verdict that he was not on trial for his political views or beliefs, and iterated that the court made its decision strictly in accordance with the law and evidence, free from any interference and absolutely free of any political considerations.

The statement added that any suggestion that certain individuals or organisations should be immune from the legal consequences of their illegal acts amounts to advocating for special privileges to break the law, which runs contrary to the spirit of the rule of law.

Further, it stressed that the Lai Chee-ying case had nothing to do with freedom of the press, and that the defendants involved had used journalism as a guise over the years to commit acts that brought harm to the country and Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong SAR Government said Lai Chee-ying's health has been properly cared for, highlighting that the senior counsel representing him said in court that he had been receiving appropriate treatment and care in prison, and that he had made no complaint regarding his custodial arrangements.

The statement added that anyone seeking to use the case to vilify Hong Kong’s rule of law and human rights situation is guilty of twisting the facts and lacks any integrity.

It emphasised that the Hong Kong SAR Government will resolutely, fully and faithfully implement the NSL, the SNSO and other relevant laws safeguarding national security, whilst upholding the rights and freedoms of residents in accordance with the law to ensure the steadfast and successful implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle.