The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today firmly rejected and strongly disapproved of the misleading and slanderous remarks jointly made by 10 foreign Catholic leaders against the law enforcement actions and legal proceedings in respect of the cases involving Lai Chee-ying and their request for his immediate and unconditional release.

It said in a statement that these foreign Catholic leaders made the fact-twisting remarks to inappropriately interfere in the Hong Kong SAR’s internal affairs and the Hong Kong SAR courts’ independent exercise of judicial power.

The Hong Kong SAR Government also noted that any person, regardless of his or her identity, who attempts to interfere with the city’s judicial proceedings in order to procure a defendant’s evasion of the criminal justice process, is blatantly undermining the Hong Kong SAR’s rule of law.

Making a statement with the intent to interfere with or obstruct the course of justice, or engaging in conduct with the same intent, is very likely to constitute the offence of criminal contempt of court or the offence of perverting the course of justice.

The Hong Kong SAR Government reiterated that Hong Kong is a society underpinned by the rule of law and has always adhered to the principle that laws must be obeyed and lawbreakers held accountable.

It also said that Basic Law Article 25 provides that all Hong Kong residents shall be equal before the law. All law enforcement actions taken by the Hong Kong SAR’s law enforcement agencies are based on evidence, strictly according to the law and for the acts of the people concerned, and have nothing to do with their professions, political beliefs or backgrounds.

It would be totally contrary to the rule of law for someone to suggest that certain groups of people could enjoy privileges and break the law without getting arrested or bearing legal responsibilities due to their capacity. Everyone, including journalists, should abide by the law.

Additionally, under Basic Law Article 85, the Hong Kong SAR’s courts shall exercise judicial power independently, free from any interference. The Judiciary exercises judicial power independently in accordance with the law, and everyone charged with a criminal offence has the right to a fair hearing.

The Hong Kong SAR Government pointed out in all the cases involving Lai Chee-ying, he had fully exercised his right to defend himself and the right to appeal, and the verdicts and sentences, if any, were given by the courts exercising judicial power independently, based on applicable laws, facts and evidence after open trials and hearings. Also, the detailed reasons for sentence are contained in the publicly available judgment.

The Hong Kong SAR shall continue, in accordance with the law, to effectively prevent, suppress and punish acts and activities that endanger national security as well as safeguard the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong people.

It strongly urged the foreign Catholic leaders to discern facts from fallacies, and immediately stop interfering in the Hong Kong SAR’s internal affairs and the Hong Kong SAR courts’ independent exercise of judicial power.