‘Hong Kong has long returned to China’: Chinese Embassy in the UK condemns British interference

The Chinese embassy in the UK issued a statement on Monday, condemning the remarks made by UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper over the conviction of Jimmy Lai and calling it “irresponsible and blatant interference in Hong Kong’s judicial affairs and China’s internal affairs.”

“This blatantly interferes in China’s internal affairs and tramples on the rule of law, and seriously violates the basic norms governing international relations. We strongly oppose and condemn such an unjustified move by the UK side,” reads the statement.

Jimmy Lai was convicted of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces in Hong Kong’s High Court on Monday. The embassy said in the statement that extensive facts have been revealed during the trial, which fully prove that Jimmy Lai was the primary planner and participant in a series of anti-China riots in Hong Kong, a pawn for external anti-China forces, and the behind-the-scenes instigator of the turbulence over the amendment bill in Hong Kong. 

“He publicly begged foreign countries to impose sanctions on China and the Hong Kong SAR, brazenly proclaimed ‘fighting for the US,’ colluded with ‘Hong Kong independence’ and ‘violent riots’ organizations as well as foreign forces, abused media tools to incite hatred and intensify confrontation, and drummed up support for violent activities, in an attempt to destabilize Hong Kong and pursue a "color revolution," reads the statement. It added that Lai’s actions seriously challenged the One Country, Two Systems bottom line while at the same time gravely endangered national security.

Hong Kong is a society underpinned by the rule of law, the statement noted, and laws must be observed and violations must be punished, adding that the case has been conducted openly and transparently, with fair and impartial procedures.

The embassy also condemned the British interference in China’s internal affairs.

“Hong Kong has long returned to China and British colonial rule in Hong Kong has been put to an end long ago. Hong Kong-related affairs are purely China’s internal affairs. The UK is in no position and has no right to point fingers at or interfere in Hong Kong-related affairs,” reads the statement.

The embassy also urged the UK side to stop such attempt of interference and stop gong further down the wrong path, which has “exposed the UK’s sinister motive to destabilize Hong Kong”.

During the routine press conference of China’s Foreign Ministry, spokesperson Guo Jiakun responded while taking questions on Lai’s conviction that “Hong Kong upholds the rule of law. The Central Government firmly supports the Hong Kong SAR in safeguarding national security and punishing crimes that endanger national security in accordance with the law.”

He also urged “relevant country” to respect China’s sovereignty and the rule of law in Hong Kong, and refrain from making irresponsible remarks on the trial of judicial cases in Hong Kong SAR or meddling in Hong Kong’s judicial affairs and interfering in China’s internal affairs in any form.