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Beijing’s foreign ministry arm in Hong Kong has slammed US politicians for “exonerating and glorifying” jailed former media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying who is facing national security charges, urging them to stop interfering in the city and China’s affairs. The Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong issued a statement on Saturday, expressing its strong dissatisfaction and opposition to the US politicians who signed a letter to US President Donald Trump supporting Lai. “Relevant US politicians have exonerated Jimmy Lai, shielded and glorified him, and interfered with the Special Administrative Region’s judiciary, seriously violating the principles of international law and the basic norms of international relations of non-interference in internal affairs,” it said. “This is a wrong act that deviates from the spirit of the rule of law and pursues ‘double standards’.” Lai, founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily, faces three conspiracy charges related to sedition and collusion with foreign forces for allegedly calling for international sanctions against authorities and inciting public hatred in the wake of anti-government protests in 2019. The 77-year-old is the most prominent figure yet to be prosecuted under the national security law imposed on Hong Kong by Beijing in 2020 to criminalise acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces. More than 30 US lawmakers signed a letter headed by Senator Rick Scott, asking Trump to appeal for the Hong Kong media mogul’s release, noting that Lai’s health was deteriorating. Trump said he would use his coming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping to push for Lai’s release. “I have a lot of respect for Rick Scott and a lot of them that are asking me to do that, and it’s on my list I’m going to ask,” Trump said on Friday as he departed Washington for his trip to Asia. Trump and Xi will meet on Thursday on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in South Korea, according to the White House. The commissioner’s office said on Saturday that a large number of facts revealed in Lai’s trial had proven he was deeply engaged in separatist activities. His crimes had seriously undermined Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability, impacted the bottom line of the “one country, two systems” governing principle, and endangered national security, it said. His illegal acts were crimes in any country and should be severely punished by law, it said. The office added that the national security law fully protected human rights and Lai’s legitimate rights during his imprisonment had been legally protected. “We advise relevant US politicians to face reality, uphold an objective and fair position, stop sheltering those who are opposed to China and attempt to destabilise Hong Kong, earnestly respect the rule of law in the Special Administrative Region, and immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs,” the office said. Lai, who has been in custody since December 2020, is now waiting for a verdict to be delivered in his marathon national security trial that spanned more than 1 1/2 years. The court has not specified when the judgment will be delivered, but it is expected that the judges will try to reach a verdict before another national security trial involving activists behind the city’s annual Tiananmen Square vigil. That case was originally scheduled to open in mid-November but the latest information on the judiciary’s website showed that the hearing had been postponed to January 22, next year.
