Hong Kong's High Court on Monday found media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, founder of the now-defunct tabloid Apple Daily, guilty of violating the National Security Law for Hong Kong, including on two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces.
Three Apple Daily-related companies -- Apple Daily Ltd, Apple Daily Printing Ltd, and AD Internet Ltd -- were also found guilty on two charges: Conspiracy to print, publish, sell, offer for sale, distribute, display, and/or reproduce seditious publications, and conspiracy to commit collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security.
Non-official members of the Executive Council issued a statement today welcoming the Court's conviction. They emphasized that Hong Kong is a society governed by the rule of law, consistently upholding the principles that laws must be followed and violators must be prosecuted. The Court's ruling demonstrates the justice of the law and safeguards the core values of Hong Kong.
The non-official members condemned any acts that collude with foreign or external forces to endanger national security. They stated that lawbreakers must bear the legal consequences for their actions, and those convicted deserve their sentence.
They further expressed continued support for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government in steadfastly fulfilling its responsibility to safeguard national security, and in making every effort to prevent, stop, and punish acts and activities that jeopardize national security.
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