HKSAR gov't condemns external forces' interference in Jimmy Lai case

HONG KONG, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government has expressed strong opposition to the malicious attacks, false statements and smears from external forces regarding the national security case of Jimmy Lai.

In an online statement, a spokesperson for the HKSAR government said that external forces have wantonly slandered and attacked the HKSAR government, which was clearly a case of politics trumping the law.

"With the external forces distorting facts and confounding right and wrong, their malicious intentions are clearly revealed," the spokesperson said. "We must sternly denounce their wrongdoings to set the record straight."

The spokesperson reiterated that Hong Kong has the responsibility to safeguard national security and will resolutely combat acts and activities endangering national security.

"We will do our utmost to prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities endangering national security to fulfil this perfectly justified responsibility," the spokesperson said.

In a separate statement, the HKSAR government criticized the Hong Kong Journalists Association and anti-China foreign media for attempting to mislead the public and whitewash Lai.

These acts were subversive and disgraceful, the spokesperson said. They aimed to manipulate media to incite the public, betray the interest of the country and people, facilitate the infiltration by external forces and brainwash the youth.

The HKSAR government will never tolerate any acts that endanger national security by inciting the public to betray the interests of the country and people, the spokesperson said.■