This photo dated April 21, 2021 shows the Central Government Offices at Tamar, Hong Kong. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)
HONG KONG – The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Sunday strongly disapproved and firmly rejected the scandalizing of the HKSAR’s criminal justice process involving national security cases by a spokesperson for the Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union.
In a statement, the HKSAR government strongly urged the EU official to immediately stop acting against international law and basic norms of international relations, and “interfering in the Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs at large."
An HKSAR govt spokesman stressed 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
"As guaranteed by the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights, all defendants charged with a criminal offence have the right to and will undergo a fair trial by the judiciary,” an HKSAR government spokesman was quoted in the statement as saying.
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“The courts decide cases strictly in accordance with the evidence and all applicable laws. Cases will never be handled any differently owing to the profession, political beliefs or background of the persons involved."
The spokesman stressed 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.
“Hong Kong's judicial system has always been highly regarded by international communities,” the spokesman said.
“The Judiciary exercises judicial power independently in accordance with the law, free from any interference. Everyone charged with a criminal offence has the right to a fair hearing.”
The spokesman reiterated that the government steadfastly safeguards national sovereignty, security and development interests, and upholds the authority of the National Security Law for Hong Kong.
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It resolutely carries out its duties and obligations to safeguard national security in accordance with the law, and upholds the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong people as protected under the law to ensure the steadfast and successful implementation of 'one country, two systems', the spokesman said.
“Any person's attempt to undermine the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong by slandering the rule of law in Hong Kong will only expose his own weakness and faulty arguments and be doomed to fail,” he added.