The United States, Britain, Australia and the European Union were among those who raised concerns over the Thursday verdict, which capped off the biggest prosecution yet against opposition figures in Hong Kong.
The government hit out Friday at "inaccurate remarks and smearing" from some Western nations, foreign media and those dubbed anti-China groups and politicians.
"(Their) reckless commentaries were inappropriate and disregarded the spirit of the rule of law," a government spokesperson said.
The court convicted 14 people for organising an unofficial election in 2021 with the goal of paralysing the government, while two defendants were acquitted.
Hong Kong leader John Lee said the ruling showed "the scale and the seriousness of the criminal scheme".
The government added that it would not be intimidated by proposals of sanctions against judges and prosecutors, saying they amounted to a "blatant interference in Hong Kong and China's internal affairs".
A group of American lawmakers on Thursday accused Hong Kong of "bulldozing" freedoms, while former colonial ruler Britain pressed for the release of all those charged under the national security law.
Beijing imposed the legislation on Hong Kong in 2020 after the city saw huge and sometimes violent democracy protests.
UN demands release of those 'arbitrarily detained' under Hong Kong security laws
Geneva (AFP) May 31, 2024 -
The UN rights chief on Friday decried the use of controversial national security laws in Hong Kong to among other things convict democracy advocates and demanded the release of all those "arbitrarily detained".
"I reiterate my call to release immediately and unconditionally all those arbitrarily arrested and detained under these laws," Volker Turk said in a statement.
His comment came after a Hong Kong court on Thursday convicted 14 people for organising an unofficial election in 2021 with the goal of paralysing the government. Two defendants were acquitted.
The verdicts were handed down under a national security law that China imposed on Hong Kong in 2020 after the city saw huge and sometimes violent democracy protests.
"My Office and other UN human rights experts have raised repeated concerns that this legislation does not comply with China's obligations under international human rights law," Turk said.
"This legislation should be repealed and, in the meantime, not applied," he insisted.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also highlighted the situation of seven people who are facing charges under a new national security ordinance passed in Hong Kong in March this year.
It includes penalties of up to life imprisonment for five categories of crimes including treason, insurrection, and external interference.
"Any law on national security needs to be clear in scope and definition, and only permit restrictions on human rights that are strictly necessary and proportionate," Turk insisted.
"I have already expressed concerns that the broad and vague provisions could be arbitrarily applied to curb freedom of expression and target dissenting voices, civil society actors and human rights defenders."
US condemns conviction of Hong Kong activists
Washington (AFP) May 31, 2024 -
The United States on Friday condemned a Hong Kong court verdict that found 14 democracy campaigners guilty of subversion under a Beijing-imposed national security law, with Washington also announcing visa restrictions.
The court had convicted 14 people on Thursday for organizing an unofficial election in 2021 with the goal of paralyzing the government, while two defendants were acquitted.
"The defendants were subjected to a politically motivated prosecution," a US State Department spokesman said.
"In response, the Department of State is taking steps to impose new visa restrictions on PRC (China) and Hong Kong officials responsible for implementing the National Security Law."
The US spokesman urged "authorities to uphold Hong Kong's judicial independence, cease the use of vague national security laws to curb peaceful dissent, and restore the openness that was so crucial to Hong Kong's vitality and competitiveness."
Beijing imposed the legislation on Hong Kong in 2020 after the city saw huge and sometimes violent democracy protests.
The Hong Kong government on Friday expressed "strong dissatisfaction and condemnation" of the planned visa restrictions.
The move "smacks of despicable political manipulation... violating international law and the basic norms governing international relations," a spokesperson said.
"(Hong Kong) despises any attempts at interference and is not intimidated."
Britain, Australia and the European Union were among those who also raised concerns over the verdict, which capped off the biggest prosecution yet against opposition figures in Hong Kong.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk called for the "release immediately and unconditionally (of) all those arbitrarily arrested and detained" under Hong Kong's national security laws.
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