HONG KONG, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- A spokesperson for the Commissioner's Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Tuesday voiced firm support for the sentence in the case of Jimmy Lai, an instigator of anti-China riots in Hong Kong.
The remarks came after the High Court of the HKSAR on Monday delivered a 20-year prison sentence for Lai over three crimes endangering national security.
Noting that certain countries and organizations have smeared and imposed sanctions on Hong Kong upon Lai's sentencing, the spokesperson expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to such acts.
Lai's actions seriously undermined the bottom line of the "one country, two systems" principle, endangered national security, and damaged the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong as well as the well-being of its citizens, the spokesperson said, stressing that Lai should be severely punished by the law.
The ruling handed down by the court of the HKSAR was based on facts and laws, which is reasonable, fair and legitimate, the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson reiterated that Lai is a Chinese citizen, and his case is purely an internal affair of the HKSAR, urging relevant countries to stop interfering in Hong Kong matters and China's internal affairs through any means.
