HK Alliance long been spreading hatred: CE

Chief Executive John Lee of Hong Kong denounced on Friday the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China (HK Alliance) for fostering hatred towards the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Central Government within the city. Lee's criticism came in response to a High Court verdict that found the HK Alliance and two former leaders, Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung, guilty of inciting subversion.

The alliance had allegedly employed various tactics to stir disaffection, animosity, and other detrimental sentiments among the public towards the CPC and the Central Government, and incite them to undermine state authority, according to Lee's statement. This case underscores that offenders, regardless of their sophistical justifications, will face severe consequences if they endanger national security, emphasized Lee.

The government spokesman revealed that during the trial, external entities resorted to blatant and repeated smear campaigns against the judiciary, Department of Justice, and law enforcement, employing political ploys and misleading statements to interfere with a fair trial. The spokesman staunchly condemned these actions as despicable attempts to bypass the rule of law.

The Office for Safeguarding National Security affirmed that the verdict exemplifies the rule of law's spirit and reaffirms the authority of the Hong Kong National Security Law. They stressed that these actions gravely infringed upon the national constitutional order, jeopardized national and social security, and were in direct violation of the Hong Kong National Security Law.