HONG KONG, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Friday strongly condemned malicious attacks, smears and slander against the sentencing decision made by the HKSAR court on Joshua Wong in accordance with the law.
Denouncing the smearing attacks launched by various Western countries, anti-China media, overseas organizations and politicians, a spokesperson for the HKSAR government said Wong chose to plead guilty after having been given sufficient time to consider the prosecution's evidence and having obtained legal advice, including that from Senior Counsel.
The entire legal proceedings of the case, including investigation, prosecution, mitigation hearings and sentencing, were conducted fairly and justly in accordance with the principles of the rule of law consistently adhered to under the common law system of Hong Kong, said the spokesperson, adding that Wong also enjoys the right to appeal against his sentence in accordance with the law.
The court pointed out that Wong and absconder Law Kwun-chung adapted their respective roles because they were fully aware that it was unlawful to collude with foreign countries or external elements to endanger national security after the enactment of the national security law in Hong Kong, noted the spokesperson.
"It is thus manifest that Wong has knowingly breached the law," said the spokesperson. Apart from the present case, the spokesperson noted, Wong has repeatedly broken the law, including taking part in unlawful assemblies and contempt of court.
"The punishment that he has received in accordance with the law across all these criminal cases is fully justified," said the spokesperson, urging all sides to stop making baseless malicious attacks or any form of interference.
