Hong Kong justice chief lashes out at critics of Stand News arrests, insists press freedom still ‘well respected’
- Accusing Western critics of acting ‘out of ignorance or with ulterior motives’, Teresa Cheng says calls for suspects’ release are ‘appalling’
- National security police on Wednesday arrested seven people who worked at, or were linked to, the opposition-leaning Stand News, prompting it to shut down
Hong Kong’s justice chief has lashed out at foreign critics of a recent national security police operation that prompted the closure of an online news platform, accusing them of making “baseless allegations” regarding the state of press freedom in the city.
Accusing critics of acting “out of ignorance or with ulterior motives”, Cheng maintained that the press’ freedom to operate “ has always been well respected in Hong Kong”.
“It is appalling to see that some even openly demand the immediate release of the arrested persons,” she wrote on her official blog, in reference to calls from foreign officials such as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
“Such demands are not only a gross disrespect for the rule of law, but also are in blatant violation of international law and the basic principle of non-intervention.”
