The Chinese government has issued a new "white paper" on Hong Kong's security policy, praising the national security law as a "shield" that has restored peace to the city. This counters international criticism following the unprecedented 20-year prison sentence of former media mogul Jimmy Lai. Hong Kong's chief executive welcomed the paper, stressing the need to remain vigilant against external hostile plans.
The Chinese government released a "white paper" on safeguarding national security in Hong Kong, emphasizing that it holds the "primary responsibility" for overseeing Hong Kong's security affairs to ensure stability amid a volatile global environment.
This document was published just one day after a Hong Kong court sentenced 78-year-old former media tycoon and prominent critic of the Chinese government, Jimmy Lai, to 20 years in prison for colluding with foreign forces. This is the harshest sentence handed down since the 2020 national security law came into effect.
The verdict has drawn strong dissatisfaction and condemnation from the United States, United Kingdom, Taiwan, European Union, Japan, and human rights groups. Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said he was "deeply saddened" by the ruling, noting that the law "does not comply with international law."
While critics view the national security law as a tool to eliminate dissenters and undermine the democratic movement, China's white paper describes the law as a "legal shield" that removes major threats and restores social order.
The document states that security measures have strengthened the foundation of the "one country, two systems" governance model, enabling Hong Kong to achieve a high level of security and confidently face future risks and challenges like a solid rock.
John Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, praised the release of the white paper, saying authorities must always stay alert to security risks. He reiterated that Jimmy Lai's prison sentence serves as a "strict warning against malicious collusion with external organizations aimed at undermining national security."
China regularly issues such white papers to set policy directions for Hong Kong. The most recent, in 2021, outlined electoral reforms restricting candidacy to "patriots only," which international observers saw as a clear erosion of democratic freedoms and exclusion of opposition voices.