The Central Government has expressed resolute support for the Hong Kong judiciary’s sentencing of media figure Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, characterizing the ruling as a demonstration of judicial integrity and the Special Administrative Region’s commitment to national security preservation.
On Monday, the Hong Kong High Court delivered a verdict sentencing Lai to 20 years imprisonment on convictions of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and conspiracy to publish seditious materials. Three national security judges—Esther Toh Lyeping, Susana Maria D’Almada Remedios, and Alex Lee Wan-tang—presided over the case. Eight co-defendants received prison terms ranging from six years and three months to ten years.
At a regular press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian identified Lai as the principal architect behind systematic anti-China activities that severely compromised the ‘one country, two systems’ principle and threatened national security. Lin emphasized that these actions substantially damaged Hong Kong’s prosperity, stability, and resident welfare.
The Central Government affirmed its unwavering support for the HKSAR’s lawful protection of national security interests, maintaining that the case represents an internal matter of the SAR. Lin urged foreign nations to respect China’s sovereignty and Hong Kong’s legal processes, stating that enhanced implementation of the National Security Law corresponds directly with increased social stability and protection of residents’ rights.
An editorial published under the pseudonym Gang Aoping on the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office’s official social media account asserted that the sentencing reflects collective societal condemnation of actors seeking to undermine China’s stability. The commentary praised the judicial decision as demonstrating that violations of national security legislation would incur severe consequences.
Representatives from the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR characterized the verdict as exemplifying judicial impartiality and legal authority. The 855-page judgment identified Lai as the mastermind behind anti-China groups, describing the evidence as incontrovertible and the offenses serious.
The Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR issued a separate statement emphasizing that upholding national sovereignty constitutes the fundamental principle under ‘one country, two systems,’ noting that punishing national security offenses represents a universal jurisdictional responsibility.
The Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR circulated correspondence to foreign media organizations affirming that proceedings were conducted without external influence, adhered to rigorous fairness standards, and resulted in a legally sound verdict based on substantiated evidence. The communication urged foreign journalists to respect judicial independence and maintain professional reporting standards without politicizing legal matters.