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Willa Wu

Beijing and Hong Kong have slammed the G7 for “trampling the city’s rule of law” after the group criticised the guilty verdict handed down at former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s national security trial and demanded his immediate release.
The strongly worded statements on Thursday were in response to a joint call from the foreign ministers of the G7 and the European Union’s high representative, who condemned Lai’s prosecution while expressing ongoing concerns about “deteriorating rights, freedoms and autonomy in Hong Kong”.
The Group of Seven comprises Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.
“We call on the Hong Kong authorities to end such prosecutions and to release Jimmy Lai immediately,” the joint statement said.
Bringing an end to a trial that lasted more than 1½ years, the city’s High Court ruled on Monday that Lai, 78, was guilty of two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and a third of conspiracy to print and distribute seditious articles.
In their 855-page ruling, the judges said Lai was the mastermind behind three conspiracies to instigate international sanctions and hostile activities against Hong Kong and mainland China, and to print seditious articles through Apple Daily, the now-defunct tabloid newspaper he founded.
The Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong hit back at the G7’s criticism, saying their statement was no more than “a piece of wasted paper”.
“Certain countries deliberately ignore the 855-page judgment, yet portray Lai as a so-called democracy fighter and press freedom advocate – this is a blatant trampling of the spirit of the rule of law,” a spokesman for the office said.
“While Western countries repeatedly express concern about Hong Kong’s rights and freedoms, they are actually worried about their proxies in Hong Kong facing punishment and frustrated that their schemes to infiltrate and undermine Hong Kong have failed.”


The spokesman stressed that any attempts to pressure China into submission would be akin to “a mantis trying to stop a chariot or an ant trying to shake a tree”.
The Hong Kong government, meanwhile, said the G7’s criticism had “perfectly demonstrated their long-standing bullying behaviour, which is extremely ugly and despicable”.
“They arbitrarily smeared Hong Kong’s prosecution and judicial authorities’ lawful execution of duties as damaging rights and freedoms,” a spokesman said.
“Advocating that people or organisations of certain backgrounds should not face legal consequences for their illegal actions and activities is equivalent to granting them special privileges to break the law, which completely violates the spirit of the rule of law.”
The local government stressed that Lai was not prosecuted for his political views, while the case had nothing to do with press freedom in the city.
The G7’s remarks came after Britain earlier called the prosecution “politically motivated”, while the European Union said the ruling was “emblematic of the erosion of democracy and fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong”.
The US argued that the verdict reflected the enforcement of Beijing’s laws to silence those who sought to defend freedom of speech and other fundamental rights.


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Jimmy Lai trial

Beijing, Hong Kong slam G7 over criticism of Jimmy Lai trial verdict

A national flag flies outside the Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong. Photo: Warton Li

Hong Kong Bar Association chief urges critics to assess Jimmy Lai verdict fairly

Shen Chunyao, director of the Hong Kong Basic Law Committee and chairman of the Legislative Affairs Commission (right) speaks with Jose-Antonio Maurellet, chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association during his visit to Beijing. Photo: Handout

A 15-strong delegation from the Hong Kong Bar Association, led by Maurelle (first row, fifth from left), met top officials in Beijing to discuss the rule of law, arbitration and professional development. Photo: Handout

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Jimmy Lai’s national security trial ran for 156 days. Photo: Sam Tsang

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Jimmy Lai (pictured here in April 2020) was found guilty on all three conspiracy charges in his national security trial on Monday. Photo: Edmond So

Media representatives gather outside West Kowloon Court on Monday, ahead of the hearing announcing the verdict on Jimmy Lai. Photo: Sam Tsang

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Chinese ministry’s arm in Hong Kong says attempts to pressure nation akin to ‘mantis trying to stop a chariot or ant trying to shake a tree’


Chinese ministry’s arm in Hong Kong says attempts to pressure nation akin to ‘mantis trying to stop a chariot or ant trying to shake a tree’.


Beijing, Hong Kong slam G7 over criticism of Jimmy Lai trial verdict

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Chinese ministry’s arm in Hong Kong says attempts to pressure nation akin to ‘mantis trying to stop a chariot or ant trying to shake a tree’

Chinese ministry’s arm in Hong Kong says attempts to pressure nation akin to ‘mantis trying to stop a chariot or ant trying to shake a tree’