The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has strongly condemned certain members of the US House of Representatives for attempting to pervert the course of justice by twisting the facts regarding the case of Lai Chee-ying and his custodial arrangements.

In a statement issued on Friday night, the SAR government said a “resolution” introduced by the members attacks and smears the city, the “one country, two systems” principle, and Hong Kong’s attempts to safeguard national security and protect human rights.

As legal proceedings in Lai's case – in which he is charged with offenses under the Hong Kong National Security Law – are still ongoing, it is inappropriate to comment on the case. Doing so interferes with the court's exercise of independent judicial power, may pervert the course of justice, and disregards the spirit of the rule of law, it said.

“Yet, certain US politicians have introduced the so-called 'resolution' under the pretext of human rights, democracy, and freedom to blatantly comment on the case. This is an obvious attempt to exert pressure on the courts of the HKSAR, completely disregarding the spirit of the rule of law,” said a government spokesman.

The so-called 'resolution' baselessly alleges that Lai Chee-ying, also known as Jimmy Lai, has been subjected to inhumane treatment in custody, while turning a blind eye to various human rights violations occurring domestically in the US, is in fact “blatant hypocrisy and double standard”, the spokesman added.

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Reiterating that Hong Kong is an inalienable part of China and a local administrative region that enjoys a high degree of autonomy under “one country, two systems” and under the central government, the spokesman said that the legal basis for “one country, two systems” comprises the Constitution and the Basic Law, which guarantee fundamental rights and freedoms, including the right to equality before the law, as buttressed by the rule of law and independent judicial power.

The HKSAR government steadfastly safeguards national sovereignty, security, and development interests, and fully and faithfully lives up to the highest principle of “one country, two systems”, the spokesman added.

“The laws safeguarding national security in the HKSAR are precisely for safeguarding national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity; and ensuring the full and faithful implementation of the principle of 'one country, two systems' under which the people of Hong Kong administer Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy.”

The SAR government acts in accordance with the law to resolutely and effectively prevent, suppress, and punish actions that endanger national security, while safeguarding the rights and freedoms of the city's residents, said the spokesman.

The government urged the US politicians concerned to discern fact from fallacies, respect international law and the basic norms governing international relations, and immediately stop interfering in matters which are purely China's internal affairs.