The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government on Saturday strongly condemned the US Department of State for the proposed imposition of so-called “visa restrictions” on Beijing and SAR officials related to the implementation of the National Security Law.
The statement came after Washington said on the previous day that it was taking steps to impose new visa restrictions following the subversion trial of 47 people in Hong Kong and urged the SAR authorities to release the detained individuals.
On Thursday, the Hong Kong High Court found 14 out of the 16 defendants guilty of conspiring to subvert State power through a so-called “primary election” held in 2020, and ruled that the “primary” was intended to form a new Legislative Council that would disrupt the functions of the SAR authorities.
READ MORE: Western politicians criticized for attacking HK subversion verdict
“The proposed imposition of the so-called 'visa restrictions' by the US government smack of despicable political manipulation to intimidate the People's Republic of China and HKSAR officials who resolutely safeguard national security,” a spokesman for the HKSAR government said in the statement.
The HKSAR will resolutely continue to discharge the duty of safeguarding national security.
Spokesperson, HKSAR Govt
Saying that these grossly interfere in China's internal affairs and Hong Kong's affairs and violate the international law and the basic norms governing international relations, the spokesman stressed that the HKSAR despises such threat and will not be intimidated by such a despicable behavior.
“The HKSAR will resolutely continue to discharge the duty of safeguarding national security.”
Referring to the offenses the 14 were convicted for, the spokesman said such criminal acts endangering national security had nothing to do with the so-called fight for democracy and human rights.
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Total 47 persons were charged in the case and the court, in the 318-page judgment, clearly set out the reasons and consideration underlying the conviction, and confirmed the occurrence of the offense of conspiracy to commit subversion, the spokesman pointed out.
“Apart from the two defendants, against whom the evidence was found insufficient for the court to be sure of their participation in the conspiracy offense, the remaining 45 defendants were convicted, showing the scale and the seriousness of the criminal scheme.”
The offenses endangering national security stipulated under the NSL target acts endangering national security with precision, and define the elements and penalties of the offenses with clarity.
Spokesperson, HKSAR Govt
The city’s law enforcement agencies have been taking law enforcement actions strictly in accordance with the law, which have nothing to do with the political stance, background or occupation of the persons or entities concerned, the spokesman said.
“The offenses endangering national security stipulated under the NSL target acts endangering national security with precision, and define the elements and penalties of the offenses with clarity,” the statement reads.
As guaranteed by the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights, all defendants charged with a criminal offense shall have the right to a fair trial by the Judiciary exercising independent judicial power, it said, adding that the SAR’s courts shall exercise judicial power independently, free from any interference.
READ MORE: Officials support trial verdict convicting 14 people of subversion
“The HKSAR government strongly demands the US government to immediately stop interfering in China's internal affairs and Hong Kong's affairs, and stop malicious smearing on the verdict of the relevant case," the spokesperson reiterated.
