Office decries HK judicial interference

HONG KONG－The Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Sunday voiced its strong disapproval of and opposition to some foreign politicians' trampling on the rule of law in Hong Kong and international law.

A spokesperson for the office made the remark in response to some politicians in the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union who made groundless accusations against the sentencing of anti-China disrupters Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, Martin Lee Chu-ming and several others by the Hong Kong judiciary and clamored for their release of those who have been jailed.

The spokesperson said that Hong Kong is governed by the rule of law and, based on solid evidence and with a completely legitimate and transparent procedure, the Hong Kong judiciary had sentenced some people to prison for organizing and participating in an unauthorized and unlawful assembly.

Some interfering foreign forces who pay lip service to the rule of law, however, have kept glorifying the criminals as "democracy fighters", tried to obstruct the judicial proceedings, and put political manipulation above Hong Kong law. While claiming to "stand with the Hong Kong people", they have shown total disregard for the popular will in Hong Kong and acted against the people by repeatedly undermining the rule of law and prosperity and stability in Hong Kong, the spokesperson said.

These self-proclaimed "champions of international rules" have also time and again meddled with Hong Kong affairs, which are China's internal affairs, in violation of international law and basic norms governing international relations, laying bare their double standards and selective application of international rules based solely on their self-interest, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson emphasized that the essence of the rule of law is that laws shall be strictly abided by, that any lawbreaker shall be held accountable, and that no one shall be above the law. The office urged countries to abide by the principle of noninterference in international law and other basic norms governing international relations, earnestly respect the rule of law, and shake off hypocrisy and double standards.

The office urged countries to stop condoning and whitewashing criminals, stop undermining Hong Kong's rule of law and judicial independence, and stop interfering with Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs. They should be sure that any interference or pressure is doomed to be futile and is only self-defeating.