Shenzhen TV: On the Hong Kong High Court’s decision to sentence Lai Chee-yingto 20 years in prison, parties including the U.S., the UK, Australia and the EU expressed concerns by releasing statements. What’s China’s response?

Lin Jian: Certain countries and institutions used the judicial case to make malicious smears against Hong Kong and its rule of law, and interfered in China’s internal affair. China firmly opposes it and has lodged serious protests with those countries and institutions.

Lai Chee-yingis the principal mastermind and perpetrator behind the series of riots that shook Hong Kong. The facts concerning his crimes of endangering national security are clear and the evidence is solid. The judicial authorities of the Hong Kong SAR made the ruling based on facts and in accordance with the law. This is lawful, justified and beyond reproach.

Hong Kong upholds the rule of law. To abide by the law and bring lawbreakers to justice is a basic principle. No one should be allowed to use “democracy” and “freedom” as a pretext to engage in unlawful and criminal activities and escape justice.

Let me stress again that Hong Kong affairs are purely China’s internal affairs. The rule of law in Hong Kong is unshakable and no foreign country has the right to make irresponsible remarks. The Chinese government remains unwavering in its determination to safeguard the nation’s sovereignty, security and development interests and to implement One Country, Two Systems. Any attempt to disrupt Hong Kong’s advancement from stability to prosperity or to destabilize Hong Kong and contain China is doomed to fail. We urge relevant sides to respect China’s sovereignty, abide by the principles in international law and basic norms governing international relations, and immediately stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs and stop interfering in China’s internal affairs in any form.