Question: Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Minister of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, recently expressed her “disappointment” with the ruling in the Jimmy Lai case on social media, and claimed that Hong Kong continues to target journalists and activists and erode a free media. What is the Embassy’s comment on this?

Embassy Spokesperson: We firmly oppose this British official’s act of pointing fingers at the rule of law in Hong Kong and slandering the human rights situation in the region.

The ruling which has been made by the relevant court in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in accordance with the law is legitimate and lawful and allows no interference. China fully protects Hong Kong residents’ freedom of speech, the press, and publication in accordance with the law. At the same time, no one is above the law by using freedom as the excuse, and those who violate the law must be held accountable.

China urges the UK to respect facts and the rule of law, stop meddling in Hong Kong-related affairs, and stop interfering in China’s internal affairs.