Hong Kong Security Secretary Chris Tang Ping-keung reaffirmed the city's commitment to legal due process Monday following the landmark verdict in the national security case against media tycoon Jimmy Lai. The High Court of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) found Lai guilty of conspiring to collude with external forces and publishing seditious materials through his now-defunct Apple Daily outlet.
Addressing media queries about international reactions to the case, Tang emphasized that 'every enforcement action was strictly conducted in accordance with the law.' The security chief stressed that Hong Kong's legal system 'protects national sovereignty while ensuring the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Basic Law.'
The verdict concludes a three-year legal process that authorities say exposed organized efforts to destabilize Hong Kong through foreign coordination. Analysts note the case underscores the HKSAR government's intensified focus on national security since the implementation of relevant legislation in 2020.
While some Western governments have criticized the proceedings, Tang maintained that 'no individual or organization enjoys immunity from legal accountability.' The Security Bureau confirmed all defendants received full legal representation throughout the trial.
