Following the Hong Kong High Court's ruling on December 15, convicting Jimmy Lai of conspiring to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security and publishing seditious publications, multiple local political parties and civic groups staged protests outside the US and UK consulates in Hong Kong on Tuesday (Dec. 16). The demonstrations were held to strongly condemn certain Western countries and politicians, especially from the United States and the United Kingdom, for what protesters described as slanderous attacks on Hong Kong's judicial system and interference in China's sovereignty.
At around 1:00 p.m., demonstrators gathered outside the US Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macao, waving the national flag of the People's Republic of China and the Hong Kong SAR flag, and holding banners that strongly condemn the US for commenting on the Jimmy Lai case and smearing Hong Kong's judiciary.
The groups emphasized that Jimmy Lai's criminal conduct is well-documented and supported by solid evidence, and that many victims of the 2019 unrest still feel the impact of the violence. They stated that the court's verdict has the support of the vast majority of Hong Kong citizens.
"National security must be defended—that's a matter of principle. The US claims to uphold the rule of law, yet criticizes the fair rulings of Hong Kong courts. Their real intention is to continue destabilizing Hong Kong. As Hong Kong citizens, we firmly oppose this," one protester declared.
Chan Yung, vice chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), led members to the US Consulate to voice their strong opposition to what they described as blatant interference in the case by Western politicians. They also submitted a protest letter addressed to the US Consul General.
Chan stressed that the convictions in Jimmy Lai's case—for conspiring with foreign or external forces to endanger national security and conspiring to print, publish, sell, offer for sale, distribute, display, and reproduce seditious publications—are key to safeguarding national security and upholding the rule of law in Hong Kong. He criticized the US and other Western figures for ignoring the facts, shielding Lai, and maliciously attacking the judiciary, which he said constitutes a serious violation of international law and the basic norms of international relations.
He urged US politicians to immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal matters and reaffirmed DAB's full support for the Hong Kong SAR Government in lawfully punishing any acts that endanger national security to ensure long-term stability and the successful implementation of "One Country, Two Systems."
At 2:30 p.m., another group of citizens protested outside the British Consulate-General in Hong Kong, where they also submitted a letter of protest. The groups condemned the UK's comments on the Lai case as a flagrant interference in China's internal affairs and an affront to the spirit of the rule of law.
Members of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (FTU) also joined the protest outside the British Consulate, denouncing the UK government's attempt to smear Hong Kong's justice system under the pretext of the Lai case. They submitted a formal letter of condemnation.
Dennis Leung Tsz-wing, Legislative Council member and FTU representative, emphasized that Jimmy Lai's actions—inciting subversion, colluding with external forces, sowing division, and undermining national unity—are clearly criminal and supported by hard evidence. He stated that the Hong Kong authorities and judiciary have acted in accordance with the law, and the UK has no standing to interfere or comment on these matters.
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