China summons Western envoys in Hong Kong over Jimmy Lai sentencing criticism

RiddleMaster · 2026-02-14T11:04:39+00:00

China's foreign ministry in Hong Kong summoned officials from the UK, US, Australia, and the EU in response to their criticisms of Jimmy Lai's 20-year prison sentence, urging respect for China's sovereignty and non-interference in internal matters.

RiddleMaster

2026-02-14 11:04:39

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BEIJING, Feb 14 (Reuters) - China’s foreign ministry commissioner’s office in Hong Kong said on Saturday it had summoned the heads of the UK, U.S., Australian and European Union missions over their officials’ negative comments on Jimmy Lai’s sentencing.

The office said it expressed “strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition” and urged those governments to respect China’s sovereignty and Hong Kong’s rule of law, stop “irresponsible” remarks on national security cases and cease interfering in Hong Kong and China’s internal affairs.

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Earlier this month, a Hong Kong court sentenced Lai, a prominent China critic and former media tycoon, to 20 years in prison in a landmark foreign‑collusion case under the city’s national security law.

Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Lincoln Feast.

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