China rejects foreign criticism of Hong Kong court ruling

China on Monday firmly rejected criticism by the United States, the European Union and several other countries over a Hong Kong court ruling involving the "Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China," saying such remarks smear Hong Kong's rule of law and interfere in China's internal affairs.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said certain countries and institutions have maliciously smeared Hong Kong and denigrated its rule of law under the pretext of the judicial case.

"China firmly opposes this and has lodged serious protests," Lin told a regular news conference in Beijing.

On Friday, a Hong Kong court found the alliance and three of its former leaders — Lee Cheuk-yan, Albert Ho Chun-yan and Chow Hang-tung — guilty of inciting subversion of State power.

Lin said the essence of the alliance's "action agendas" was to subvert state power, and that the facts concerning the defendants' crimes were clear and their actions had caused serious harm.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government's actions to combat activities endangering national security in accordance with the law are reasonable and legitimate, he said.

Noting that Hong Kong is a society governed by the rule of law, Lin said the central government firmly supports the Hong Kong SAR in safeguarding national security and combating acts that endanger national security in accordance with the law.

"Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs," Lin said, urging relevant parties to respect China's sovereignty and Hong Kong's rule of law, stop political manipulation and refrain from interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs.