Hong Kong gov’t slams ‘untruthful smearing’ by foreign critics of jail sentences in 45 democrats case
Hong Kong Free Press
The Hong Kong government has condemned what it described as untruthful smearing and unscrupulous attacks by foreign governments and organisations on the jailing of 45 democracy campaigners in the city’s largest national security case.
The verdicts and prison terms imposed by the High Court were supported by “irrefutable evidence,” a government spokesperson said in a statement on Wednesday, a day after dozens of democrats were jailed for up to 10 years over a conspiracy to commit subversion.
The case saw 118 days of open trial during which a “massive amount of evidence and submissions” were cited by the prosecution and the defence, the government said. The three handpicked national security judges also released more than 300 pages of reasons for verdict in May, while their reasons and considerations in sentencing were detailed in an 82-page document on Wednesday.
Overseas officials, including those from the US, the UK, the European Union, Australia and Canada, “anti-China organisations” and foreign media had “turned a blind eye to the facts” and made “exaggerated remarks” about the landmark case, the government said.
“Any reasonable and fair person, upon reviewing the court’s judgment, would be convinced of the severity of the crime and the guilt of the convicted individuals, supported by irrefutable evidence. Despite these ironclad facts, Western countries, anti-China organisations and politicians, and foreign media continue to distort the truth and maliciously attack,” the statement read.
The Hong Kong authorities also criticised the proposed imposition of visa restrictions on city officials by the US government in response to the sentences. Such a move was a “despicable political manipulation” aimed at local and Chinese officials, but they would not be intimidated, the government said.
US Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement on Tuesday that the 45 defendants had been “aggressively prosecuted.” They now face “life-altering imprisonment” for their peaceful participation in political activities which are protected under the Basic Law of Hong Kong, he said.
In response, the US Department of State was “taking steps” to slap new visa restrictions on multiple Hong Kong officials responsible for implementation of the national security law, Miller said.
The democrats were convicted over their roles in an unofficial primary election held in July 2020, which aimed to help the pan-democracy camp secure a controlling majority in upcoming elections for the legislature.
They conspired to indiscriminately vote down the government’s budget and public expenditure proposals had they secured a majority, the government said on Wednesday, ultimately forcing the chief executive to resign and paralysing the administration.
Had the scheme been carried out to the end, it would have had far-reaching consequences that were no less serious than overthrowing the Hong Kong government, the authorities said.
Beijing inserted national security legislation directly into Hong Kong’s mini-constitution in June 2020 following a year of pro-democracy protests and unrest. It criminalised subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces and terrorist acts – broadly defined to include disruption to transport and other infrastructure. The move gave police sweeping new powers and led to hundreds of arrests amid new legal precedents, while dozens of civil society groups disappeared. The authorities say it restored stability and peace to the city, rejecting criticism from trade partners, the UN and NGOs.
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