Beijing and Hong Kong slam US call to free former media boss Jimmy Lai

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong and the city’s government have condemned Washington’s “erroneous remarks” calling for the unconditional release of former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, who has been detained for 1,500 days.

The US Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour under the Department of State said in a social media post on Saturday that Lai had been behind bars “while standing up bravely for democracy and free speech in Hong Kong”.

A spokesman for the Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong said: “In regard to the erroneous remarks made by the US Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour that blatantly supported and advocated for the unconditional release of anti-China disrupter Lai, the office expresses strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition.”

The spokesman said Lai was the primary plotter and instigator of the anti-China and Hong Kong riots, and he was willing to act as a pawn for the US to suppress China, flagrantly colluding with external forces to jeopardise national security.

“The United States talks of the rule of law and human rights, but in reality, it has spared no effort in supporting its own foreign agents with an obvious political agenda,” he said.

“The more the United States clamour for Lai, the more it shows it is conspiring with Lai. Their actions are doomed to fail.”

He urged the US to “recognise the reality” and to “immediately stop harbouring anti-China and Hong Kong rebels”, as well as interfering in Hong Kong’s judiciary and the internal affairs of the city and the rest of the country.