The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) today (November 6) expressed strong dissatisfaction with and resolute opposition to, and strongly condemned, various countries led by the United States (US) and the West, anti-China media, overseas organisations, politicians and others who launched various malicious attacks, smears and slanders following the sentence handed down strictly in accordance with the law by the HKSAR Court on Wong Chi-fung concerning the offence of "conspiracy to commit collusion with foreign countries or with external elements to endanger national security" (contrary to Article 29 of the Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL)).

     A spokesman for the HKSAR Government said, "Articles 2, 19 and 85 of the Basic Law specifically stipulate that the judicial power, including that of final adjudication, vested with the HKSAR, is to be exercised by the Judiciary independently, free from any interference. Regardless of the occupation, political belief or background of the persons involved in the case, all cases are dealt with in an equal and impartial manner. The undeniable objective fact is that Wong Chi-fung 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. Wong Chi-fung also enjoys the right to appeal against his sentence in accordance with the law."

     ​The spokesman pointed out, "The offences endangering national security stipulated by the HKNSL and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) target acts endangering national security with precision, and define the elements and penalties of the offences with clarity. In this case, the court emphasised that the HKNSL does not have retrospective effect and that Wong Chi-fung was not punished for his pre-HKNSL acts or activities, nor for his political ideology. Wong Chi-fung was convicted of the offence solely on the basis that he had persisted, after the promulgation of the HKNSL, in his conspiracy with others to commit wrongful acts endangering national security. The court pointed out that Wong Chi-fung and absconder Law Kwun-chung adapted their respective roles because they were fully aware that after the enactment of the HKNSL, it was unlawful to collude with foreign countries or external elements to endanger national security."

     The spokesman stated, "It is thus manifest that Wong Chi-fung has knowingly breached the law, and he pleaded guilty to the charge and the relevant facts of the offence, including conspiring with absconder Law Kwun-chung and others to solicit, through various means, foreign countries or external elements including the US to impose sanctions or blockade or to engage in other hostile activities against the People's Republic of China and the HKSAR, and their officials (such as the US revoking the special treatment enjoyed by Hong Kong as a Special Administrative Region under the US law). It is manifest that the relevant acts have endangered national security. Such acts constituted extremely serious offences, which not only severely undermined national sovereignty, security, and development interests, but also directly prejudiced the well-being of the general public and the stability of society. In fact, apart from the present case, Wong Chi-fung has repeatedly broken the law, including taking part in unlawful assemblies, and contempt of court, demonstrating his utter disregard for the law. The punishment that he has received in accordance with the law across all these criminal cases is fully justified, and he has only himself to blame."

     The spokesman pointed out, "National security is a top priority for any country and forms the basis for a country's existence and development. The elements and penalties of offences endangering national security are clearly defined, precisely targeting an extremely small minority of people and organisations committing acts and activities that endanger national security, while protecting the lives and property of the general public. Law-abiding persons will not engage in acts and activities that endanger national security and will not unwittingly violate the law, and therefore have no reason to be concerned. As a matter of fact, since the promulgation and implementation of the HKNSL, stability has been quickly restored in society. With the SNSO and other relevant laws coming into effect, the rights and freedoms of the HKSAR residents and other persons in Hong Kong are more effectively protected, and economic and other developments continue to thrive.

     "Under the complex and volatile geopolitical landscape, Hong Kong, protected by laws for safeguarding national security such as the HKNSL, plays its role as a 'super connector' and 'super value-adder' by leveraging our unique advantages in connectivity, internationalisation, diversity and inclusiveness under the 'one country, two systems' principle, striving to create a stable and secure investment environment for global investors. As always, a number of mega events covering various areas such as legal, economics and finance, and maritime have been held in the HKSAR recently. Among them are major international conferences, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Finance Ministers' Meeting held last month, as well as the 94th INTERPOL General Assembly to be held at the end of this month, attracting participants from around the world to Hong Kong. International institutions have successively established headquarters or offices in Hong Kong, including the International Organization for Mediation and the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law. Coupled with its outstanding performance in recent years across various major international competitiveness and development rankings (including the 'Economic Freedom of the World 2026 Annual Report' released by the Fraser Institute, the 'World Competitiveness Yearbook 2026' published by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), etc), these fully demonstrate Hong Kong's status as an international financial and trade centre, as well as the affirmation and confidence of various sectors in Hong Kong, making all lies attempting to attack the HKSAR fall apart of their own accord."

     The spokesman reiterated, "In fact, various smears and slanders against the HKSAR's work in safeguarding national security precisely reflect that the interference and threats from external forces still exist. The HKSAR Government will continue to uphold its constitutional duty and steadfastly safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests. It will continue to resolutely fulfil its duties and obligations to safeguard national security, combat and pursue those anti-China and destabilising elements as well as agents of external forces, while simultaneously protecting the lawful rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents and others in Hong Kong in accordance with the law. At the same time, the HKSAR Government urges all sides to recognise the objective facts and stop making any baseless malicious attacks and interferences."

Ends/Friday, November 6, 2026
Issued at HKT 18:42

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