Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian stated that Lai was one of the leading organizers and participants in a series of acts aimed at destabilizing the special administrative region and undermining the “one country, two systems” principle.

Lin affirmed that his conduct posed a serious threat to national security and the well-being of Hong Kong residents, and therefore, he deserves the corresponding legal punishment.

The spokesperson remembered that Hong Kong is a society governed by the Rule of Law, and its judicial bodies operate with full autonomy in accordance with the law.

Lin said, “The effective implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL) has proven to strengthen social stability, protect the rights and freedoms of the population, and preserve the city’s international prestige.”

Since its implementation in July 2020, the NSL has been essential to restoring public order after the 2019 protests, which left more than 200 police officers injured and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in property damage.

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