A Chinese central government spokesperson on Friday condemned "a small number of politicians" in the United States and Britain for making groundless accusations against the sentencing of Joshua Wong and two other persons by Hong Kong judicial organs, warning they must stop supporting those who disrupt Hong Kong and antagonize China.
The spokesperson for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council said those foreign politicians interfered in and undermined the rule of law and judicial independence in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).
Wong, Ivan Lam and Agnes Chow incited thousands of people to besiege the Hong Kong police headquarters on June 21, 2019.
A court in Hong Kong handed down their sentences after the three defendants pleaded guilty over irrefutable evidence that proved their crimes in court.
However, a small number of U.S. and British politicians just ignored the facts and smeared the legitimate law enforcement, prosecuting and judging by the HKSAR and made "absurd demand" of releasing the convicts, the spokesperson said.
It is extremely unreasonable for them to exert pressure and threaten sanctions, the spokesperson said, calling their acts flagrant interference in the HKSAR's rule of law and judicial independence, as well as gross meddling in China's internal affairs.
Wong and the ilk have received multiple prison sentences after they have long advocated "Hong Kong independence," established extremist and separatist organizations, colluded with "Taiwan independence" secessionists, and incited students to participate in the illegal "Occupy Central" movement, the spokesperson said.
Wong willingly acted as a pawn of external anti-China forces and incited riots under the guise of "democracy," bringing chaos to Hong Kong and harm to the students, the spokesperson said, calling Wong one of the major culprits who undermined Hong Kong's prosperity and stability.
Such foreign politicians cannot wait to help Wong and their other political agents escape punishment, thus exposing their attempts to use radicals to create chaos in Hong Kong under the guise of supporting the HKSAR's democracy and freedom, said the spokesperson.
Since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, its human rights and freedom, including freedom of speech and assembly, have been fully protected by the Constitution and the HKSAR Basic Law, the spokesperson stressed.
However, the exercise of rights is limited by the law, the spokesperson said, noting that no one has the freedom of damaging others' safety and property, undermining society's prosperity and stability, or challenging national sovereignty, security, and development interests.
No foreign or external forces will succeed in forcing China's central government and the HKSAR government to give up safeguarding the rule of law, the spokesperson said.
The 1.4 billion Chinese people, including the residents of Hong Kong, will never allow it, the spokesperson said.
