Beijing slams US, UK, Australia and EU over Jimmy Lai sentencing remarks

The Chinese foreign ministry’s arm in Hong Kong has lodged “solemn representations” with local envoys for Britain, the US, Australia and the EU over remarks made by their officials and politicians about the sentencing of former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying.The Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong issued a statement on Saturday, saying it had summoned representatives from the countries and the bloc on Wednesday and Thursday.“The commissioner’s office lodged solemn representations against the negative remarks made by the officials and politicians of these countries and organisations regarding the sentencing in the Lai Chee-ying case, [and] expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition,” it said.“[The office] urged those countries, organisations and politicians to respect China’s sovereignty and the rule of law in Hong Kong, cease making irresponsible remarks about the trial of national security cases in Hong Kong and refrain from interfering in any form in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs.”Hong Kong’s High Court on Monday sentenced the 78-year-old Lai to 20 years in jail for national security crimes – the toughest punishment to date under the city’s national security law.The former media boss was convicted of two conspiracy counts of collusion with foreign forces and a third of conspiracy to print and distribute seditious articles.Six former senior executives at Apple Daily received sentences of six years and nine months to 10 years, while two activists were jailed for up to seven years and three months.