HK rebuttal to Wall Street journal
政務司 李家超 寫信給華爾街日報Wall Street Journal 編輯全文
December 31, 2021
The Editor
Wall Street Journal
Dear Editor,
Your editorial “No One Is Safe in Hong Kong” (December 29) is a grossly biased misrepresentation of facts which seriously misleads your readers about the situation in Hong Kong. Again, your baseless allegations against Hong Kong are, in your own words, “reaching new levels of nastiness”.
The fact is that several people were arrested under the Crimes Ordinance for the alleged offence of conspiracy to publish seditious publication. The arrests have nothing to do with the freedom of the press.
If you are genuinely interested in press freedom, you should support actions against people who have unlawfully exploited the media as a tool to pursue their political or personal gains.
They are the people who pollute and damage press freedom.
Freedom of speech and of the press are protected under the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights.
Article 4 of the Hong Kong National
Security Law stipulates that such rights and freedoms shall be protected in accordance with the law in safeguarding national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Far from imposing “trumped-up fraud charges” or freezing assets “without due process”, as your editorial wrongfully claims, all actions taken by Hong Kong law enforcement agencies are based on evidence, strictly in accordance with the law and specific to the alleged acts of those involved.
It is also appalling to see your false assertion that the Government “rigged” the Legislative Council election. The election was conducted in an open, fair and honest manner, and specific legislation was put in place to prevent anyone from rigging polls by means of inciting another person not to vote or to cast an invalid vote. Your baseless comments reflect nothing but your bias.
With peace and stability restored, Hong Kong is back on track. Our economy and people’s livelihood can thrive again and Hong Kong will continue to be an internationally preferred place for business.
Yours sincerely,
John K C Lee
Chief Secretary for Administration
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Johnson Choi Biz 