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

Jimmy Lai was earlier sentenced to 20 years in prison in a landmark foreign-collusion case under the city’s national security law. (Reuters)

• Jimmy Lai earlier sentenced to 20 years in prison in a landmark foreign-collusion case under the city’s national security law

BEIJING: China’s foreign ministry commissioner’s office in Hong Kong said on Saturday it had summoned the heads of the UK, US, 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.
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.