The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Monday strongly condemned the illegal and violent act of "bomb intimidation" against the magistrate designated for handling national security crimes as well as his family members.
The liaison office said it firmly supports the HKSAR government in strictly enforcing the law and the judges in performing their duties according to the law.
According to the national security law in the HKSAR, the chief executive designates certain judges in handling cases concerning offence endangering national security, and the appointed judges conduct fair trials of cases under the jurisdiction of the HKSAR in accordance with the Basic Law and national security law. This is not only the requirement for the HKSAR to fulfil its constitutional responsibility to safeguard national security, but also the need to effectively protect the legitimate rights and interests of Hong Kong residents, a spokesperson of the liaison office said.
A few radicals tried to influence the decision of certain case by intimidating the appointed magistrate, which not only severely damaged the rule of law in Hong Kong, but also blatantly defied the national security law, the spokesperson said.
"We firmly support the HKSAR government and police in resolutely enforcing the law, investigating the case as soon as possible, punishing lawbreakers strictly, so as to protect the personal safety of the magistrate and uphold the rule of law in Hong Kong."
The spokesperson stressed that the rule of law is a core value of Hong Kong society, and any act that blatantly challenges the bottom line of law and public order is unpopular and intolerable.
It is believed that people from all walks of life will support the HKSAR in performing its duty of safeguarding national security in accordance with the law, maintaining the long-term stability of Hong Kong society, and ensuring the long-term and steady development of "one country, two systems," the spokesperson added.
According to local media reports, Chief Magistrate Victor So, one of the judges designated by HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam to handle national security cases, received a phone call threatening to "blow up" his wife and children one day after he denied bail to Jimmy Lai, founder of Next Digital, in a fraud case. So then called the police.
The police have followed up the case and launched an investigation.
