Western 'gossiping, political manipulation' slammed

Jimmy Lai was the main planner and participant of riots in Hong Kong, and the United States and Britain's "gossiping" about his case violated the spirit of the rule of law, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Wang Wenbin said.

This came after the US and British governments yesterday renewed calls for the release of Lai and condemned the national security law.

Speaking in Beijing, Wang said Lai is an agent of anti-China forces and the driving force behind the chaos in Hong Kong, adding he destroyed stability and prosperity.

It is lawful and reasonable that law enforcers took Lai to a trial, and China firmly objects to US and UK comments on the case, Wang said.

"The US and the UK's gossiping on the case .... has seriously violated the spirit of the rule of law, as well as the international law principles and basic rules of international relations. It is blatant political manipulation with double standard.

"The central government firmly supports Hong Kong to safeguard national security in accordance with the law and to punish crimes endangering national security. Attempts to smear and undermine the national security law will never succeed."

The Commissioner's Office of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong also slammed the West's comments, saying they denigrated the rule of law and interfered in the city's judicial procedures.

"Lai has long been engaged in anti-China activities in Hong Kong and blatantly colluded with foreign forces to endanger national security," it said in a statement.

"He willingly served as a political tool for foreign countries to suppress China using Hong Kong and betrayed Hong Kong."

The Hong Kong government said those who "use political force, media or any other means to interfere in the judicial process in Hong Kong, depriving a fair trial for the accused, is an act to damage Hong Kong's rule of law and should be condemned."

Executive Council member and senior counsel Ronny Tong Ka-wah also criticized US and British attacks and urged Western politicians to respect the rule of law and not to interfere in trial proceedings.

But British Foreign Secretary David Cameron was "particularly concerned at the politically motivated prosecution of British national" Lai.

"As a prominent and outspoken journalist and publisher, Jimmy Lai has been targeted in a clear attempt to stop the peaceful exercise of his rights to freedom of expression and association."

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller called for Lai's release in saying "actions that stifle press freedom and restrict the free flow of information ... have undermined Hong Kong's democratic institutions and harmed Hong Kong's reputation as an international business and financial hub."

Foreign diplomats attended Lai's trial, including representatives from the United Kingdom, the United States, New Zealand, Canada, Australia and the European Union.

Sapphire Le Sage, head of political and communications of the British consulate-general Hong Kong, said she was observing the trial but did not mean to support Lai, adding an open trial is crucial to the case.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com