Question: The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has joined the foreign ministries of several other countries, including the US, Canada and Australia, in issuing a so-called joint statement containing unwarranted comments about the sentencing of Joshua Wong Chi-fung, an anti-China figure bent on destabilising Hong Kong, by the Hong Kong High Court. What is your comment?

Embassy Spokesperson: The UK and certain other countries have issued this so-called joint statement, interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs. China firmly opposes and strongly condemns such an act, and has made solemn representations to the UK side.

The facts of Joshua Wong’s crime of conspiracy to collude with a foreign country or external elements to endanger national security are clear and the evidence is conclusive. The judicial authorities of the Hong Kong SAR have handled the case and passed sentence in accordance with the law, which is lawful, proper and beyond reproach.

Hong Kong affairs are purely China’s internal affairs. The rule of law in Hong Kong must not be undermined. No foreign country has the right to make irresponsible remarks on the matter. The Chinese government remains unwavering in its determination to safeguard its national sovereignty, security and development interests and to implement One Country, Two Systems. Any attempt to disrupt Hong Kong’s progress from stability to prosperity or to destabilise Hong Kong is doomed to fail.

We urge the UK to stop shielding and glorifying criminals, and to stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs under any pretext.