HK govt slams 'malicious' Western critics over Jimmy Lai verdict

The Hong Kong government has strongly condemned criticism from Western nations and anti-China media and politicians following Monday's sentencing of Jimmy Lai and eight others for national security crimes.

A government spokesman denounced what it called "malicious attacks" and "political manipulation" by external forces attempting to smear the court's independent ruling. The spokesman stated the Jimmy Lai case, the first conviction under the Hong Kong National Security Law for "conspiracy to collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security," is a significant milestone in safeguarding national security.

"The Hong Kong National Security Law has played its role as a 'stabilizing force', warning those who endanger national security that they cannot escape justice and will be severely punished," the spokesman said.

The spokesman emphasized that after a 156-day open trial reviewing over 2,220 pieces of evidence, more than 80,000 pages of documents, and testimony from 14 prosecution witnesses, the court found Lai, as the mastermind, used the now-defunct Apple Daily to "poison society" and repeatedly colluded with foreign forces, pleading for sanctions and hostile actions against the central and Hong Kong governments.

The court stated Lai's sole intent was to seek the downfall of the Chinese Communist Party, even at the expense of the interests of the Chinese and Hong Kong people. The spokesman concluded Lai "brought calamity to the country and Hong Kong, is guilty of monstrous crimes, and deserves his punishment."

The spokesman reiterated the court's position that Lai was not tried for his political views or beliefs, countering claims of a "political prosecution."