Beijing launches counter-attack after US slams Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai’s fraud conviction
- Beijing hits back after US criticises media tycoon Jimmy Lai’s fraud conviction and ‘deterioration in protection for human rights’
- High-level mainland Chinese agencies accuse US of hypocrisy and of ‘making excuses to smear Hong Kong’s rule of law’
Beijing has stepped up a war of words with the United States as three high-level mainland Chinese agencies accused Washington of smear tactics over Hong Kong’s adherence to the rule of law and its national security legislation after the conviction of media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying for fraud.
The State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) said on Thursday Washington’s criticism was “shameless”.
The commissioner’s office of the Chinese foreign ministry in Hong Kong added the US attempt to “whitewash” Lai would bring “disgrace” on the country and the central government’s liaison office in the city condemned the United States for “backing anti-China elements”.
The agencies hit out after the US State Department attacked the decision to convict Lai on Tuesday.
“We remain deeply concerned about the deterioration in protection for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the systematic dismantling of Hong Kong’s autonomy under the national security law,” US State Department spokesman Ned Price said.
“These include increased efforts to wield the national security law to suppress independent media, to silence dissenting views, and to stifle freedom of speech.
