Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has consistently published seditious fake news through Apple Daily, inciting social conflict and hatred. The High Court last week found Lai guilty of two counts of "conspiracy to collude with a foreign country" and one count of "conspiracy to publish seditious publications."

External forces and the Hong Kong Journalists Association have conflated the criminal acts in this case with press freedom, misleading the public and attempting to whitewash Lai.

The government refutes the remarks that attempt to mislead the public, deliberately whitewashing criminal Lai Chee-ying under the cloak of so-called democracy. The statement wrote that Lai's case has nothing to do with freedom of the press, as the defendants involved in the case have used journalism as a guise to commit acts that brought harm to China and Hong Kong.

"Lai Chee-ying was fundamentally the mastermind behind a series of anti-China and destabilising activities in Hong Kong, and was no doubt an agent of external anti-China forces."

"The court clearly pointed out in the reasons for verdict that Lai Chee-ying was not on trial for his political views or beliefs. The court's reasons for verdict in this case are 855 pages long, which are fully open for public inspection, and include the court's analysis of the relevant legal principles and evidence, as well as the reasons for convicting Lai Chee-ying and the three defendant companies in full detail."

The government noted 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, and the Hong Kong National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security -- that included the rights and freedoms, including the freedoms of the press, of speech and of publication.

"Like all other places in the world, journalists, just like all other citizens, have an obligation to abide by all the laws. 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 further stated that journalists must act in good faith on accurate factual basis and provide reliable and precise information in accordance with the tenets of "responsible journalism", so as to be entitled to the protection of freedom of speech and press Freedom.

The court's judgment in this case explicitly stated that Jimmy Lai consciously used Apple Daily and his personal influence to conduct a continuous campaign to achieve his nefarious intentions, including undermining the legitimacy or authority of the central government, the SAR government, and their institutions. The court noted that this far exceeded the scope permitted by law.

Political figures have observed that after the verdict in Lai's case was announced, several Western countries immediately launched a multi-pronged attack and smear campaign against the ruling through officials, politicians, and anti-China organizations. "The speed and scale of this attack prove that this propaganda war was premeditated and a despicable political tactic, attempting to interfere in China's internal affairs and Hong Kong's internal affairs."

In fact, the outbreak of the 2019 black-clad riots was precisely because Apple Daily continuously disseminated seditious fake news and misinformation, leading citizens to participate in the riots and commit extreme acts of violence due to being misled and brainwashed. Although Hong Kong quickly returned to stability after the implementation of the National Security Law, remnants of the black-clad rioters who fled overseas continue to brainwash Hong Kong's youth through the internet.

Fugitive Keung Ka-wai is one such example.

During the black-clad riots, Keung frequently appeared at riot sites and was later convicted of "sedition" and sentenced to eight months in prison. After his release, Keung fled to Taiwan, where he founded the pro-independence organization Hong Kong Democratic Independence Union and participated in the anti-China organization Hong Kong Parliament.

In July of this year, police arrested four members of the Hong Kong Democratic Independence Union in Hong Kong for allegedly participating in the organization of separatist and subversive activities and military training, including a 15-year-old student. The incident reflects how fugitives like Keung, in pursuit of political gain, even indiscriminately poisoned the minds of immature secondary school students, ultimately leading to the student's three-year and six-month prison sentence.

By mid-December, more young people were allegedly used by the Hong Kong Parliament and the Hong Kong Democratic Independence Union to rent a unit in an industrial building in San Po Kong for military training. Police arrested 10 men and women and seized air guns, explosives, short knives, imitation swords, and fighting tools from the premises.

The political figure pointed out that the incident is similar to the indiscriminate shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney last week, as investigations revealed the two gunmen had pledged allegiance to the "ISIS" terrorist organization and had spent about a month in the Philippines in the weeks leading up to the attack. Reports indicated that the two received "military-style training" in the Philippines.

The political figure continued, "Some seditious fake news and misinformation -- amplified online -- can lead to unpredictable and disastrous consequences. The SAR government is cracking down on crimes endangering national security, including sedition, in accordance with the law."