BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs and China urges relevant parties to earnestly respect China's sovereignty and the rule of law in Hong Kong, and stop the political manipulation and interference in the Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs in any form, a foreign ministry spokesperson said here Monday.
Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks after the EU and certain countries including the United States have expressed their concerns in their statements and remarks regarding the case that Hong Kong's High Court convicted the "Hong Kong Alliance" and its former leaders Lee Cheuk-yan, Ho Chun-yan and Chow Hang-tung of inciting subversion.
Certain countries and institutions used the judicial case to make malicious smears against Hong Kong and its rule of law, and interfered in China's internal affair, Lin said, adding China firmly opposes it and has lodged serious protests.
Pointing out that the platform of "Hong Kong Alliance" is aimed at subverting state power at its core, and the facts concerning the defendants' crimes are clear and the offense has caused serious harm, Lin said it's legitimate and lawful for the government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to combat the activities endangering national security.
"Hong Kong upholds rule of law. The central government firmly supports the Hong Kong SAR in safeguarding national security and combating activities that endanger national security in accordance with the law," he said. ■
