A spokesperson for the Commissioner's Office of China's Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong S.A.R. sent a letter today (Feb 10) to The Wall Street Journal, strongly refuting its editorial on the Jimmy Lai case as factually unfounded, heavily biased, and grossly misleading to the public.
The full text of the letter is as follows:
To the Editorial Board of The Wall Street Journal:
On February 9, your newspaper wasted no time in publishing an editorial titled "Jimmy Lai Gets a Death Sentence" right after his sentencing to 20 years in prison. However, this obviously pre-fabricated piece is rich in bias, poor in facts, and severely misleading.
Let me make this clear: fabrication based on sheer speculation oceans away is never a reliable way to write about the events in Hong Kong. The Wall Street Journal owes it to the public to rise above the use of clickbait headlines and disinformation.
— Your editorial equates in the title the 20-year sentence with a death sentence, which will mislead readers into believing that the Hong Kong court has just handed down a death sentence. For your information, Hong Kong formally abolished the death penalty back in 1993. If you are truly concerned with the 20-year sentence, perhaps you should be more worried about the century-long, even thousand-year sentences passed by American courts.
— Your editorial suggests that Lai as a "publisher" deserve some special treatment, if not immunity. May I suggest that everyone is equal and no one is more equal before the court.
— Your editorial decries the sentencing "a profound injustice". I beg to differ here: the trial was conducted with full transparency, closely witnessed by citizens, the media, and foreign consular officials. The proceedings were beyond reproach, the sentencing was grounded in law, and the punishment fits the crime—this is the very embodiment of justice.
— Your editorial alleges the sentencing "confirms that Hong Kong… is now firmly under the iron boot of Beijing", which only exposes your grave misunderstanding of the "one country, two systems" principle implemented in Hong Kong. Please bare in mind that Hong Kong is part of China, and the "one country" has always been the foundation of "two systems". Any attempt to undermine "one country" is a crime that violates national security and must be held accountable.
— Your editorial laments the "end of an era" for Hong Kong. Here I'm delighted to inform you that it is the old era of violence and chaos orchestrated by anti-China elements that has ended in Hong Kong. What has begun is a new era of stability and prosperity, where Hong Kong is actively fostering economic growth like a racing horse. In 2025, Hong Kong's economy achieved a series of remarkable figures, which I do not need to repeat here.
— As for your insinuation that it may not be in China's interest to get the bad press and opprobrium just for keeping some in prison, let me be clear that the Chinese people never provoke trouble but never fear it either. Neither bad press nor foul-mouthing can shake China's resolve to act in accordance with the law.
Finally, let me share this: according to a recent report by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, 86% of surveyed U.S. companies in Hong Kong view the city as a competitive international business hub, 94% express confidence in Hong Kong's rule of law, and 92% have no plans to relocate their headquarters from Hong Kong. Thus, your newspaper's decision to relocate your Asia headquarters from Hong Kong two years ago doesn't look popular. The physical distance you keep from Hong Kong has led to a profound disconnect, leaving your editorial board in a cocoon, isolated from the reality here. This isolation compels you to resort to fabricating alternative narratives. Under such circumstances, how can genuine insight be expected? Therefore, I suggest that your editors step out of your New York cocoon and visit Hong Kong. Seeing is believing, as always.
Spokesperson for the Office of the Commissioner
of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong SAR
February 10, 2026
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