The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today strongly condemned an anti-China organisation and foreign media for attempting to sugar-coat the criminal acts of national security offender Lai Chee-ying.

The Hong Kong SAR Government issued a statement rebuking the release of a “press freedom index” and presentation of an "award" to Lai, describing these actions as despicable behaviours that disregard the rule of law and twist facts to smear the Hong Kong SAR.

The statement highlighted that Lai’s conviction followed a fair and transparent trial. The court conducted 156 days of public hearings, reviewed over 2,220 pieces of evidence and over 80,000 pages of documents, and considered more than 1,000 pages of written submissions. Lai himself testified for 52 days. 

The Hong Kong SAR Government stressed that suggesting individuals or organisations should be immune from legal sanctions due to their background is tantamount to granting privileges to break the law and contradicts the spirit of the rule of law.

It further noted that certain media and journalist organisations have conflated criminal acts with freedom of the press to vilify the Hong Kong SAR and mislead the public regarding the city’s human rights and legal standing. 

The statement emphasised that the Lai Chee-ying case is unrelated to press freedom, noting that the defendants used journalism as a guise to commit acts harmful to both the country and Hong Kong. 

It said that the public trial revealed Lai’s direct management and hands-on control of the editorial direction of Apple Daily. It further detailed his repeated collusion with foreign forces to call for sanctions and engage in hostile activities against the central government and the Hong Kong SAR Government. 

The statement added that the court’s finding that Lai's consistent intent – both before and after the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL) – was to seek the downfall of the Communist Party of China, regardless of the impact on the people of the People's Republic of China and the Hong Kong SAR.

Furthermore, the Hong Kong SAR Government cited the court’s reasons for its verdict, which clarified that Lai was not on trial for his political beliefs. The court's analysis of legal principals and evidence was well-founded and reasoned, demonstrating that the conviction and sentencing were based strictly on the law, free from any political considerations or outside interference. 

The Hong Kong SAR Government said it must again firmly refute claims by external forces with ulterior motives who continue to distort the truth and launch malicious attacks despite ironclad facts.

The statement stressed 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 noted that the media landscape has remained vibrant since the implementation of the HKNSL and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, but some people with ulterior motives have still fabricated facts about freedom of the press and speech in Hong Kong.

Regarding the organisation Reporters Without Borders, the Hong Kong SAR Government pointed out that its funding largely comes from the European Union, the US State Department and other European governments. Describing it as a tool for anti-China forces for the United States and some Western countries, the Hong Kong SAR Government stated it disregards "rankings" that lack credibility.

Reiterating its stance, the Hong Kong SAR Government said it will continue to strictly adhere to the rule of law to ensure offenders are held accountable. This approach aims to prevent, suppress and punish acts endangering national security while protecting the lawful rights of Hong Kong residents. 

It urged all sides to recognise the objective facts and stop any baseless malicious attacks.