China opposes foreign defamation of Hong Kong under pretext of Jimmy Lai case: spokesperson

BEIJING, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- China firmly opposes some countries and institutions using judicial cases as a pretext to maliciously smear Hong Kong, defame its rule of law, and interfere in China's internal affairs, a foreign ministry spokesperson said here Tuesday.

China has lodged stern representations with the relevant countries and institutions, spokesperson Lin Jian told a regular news briefing after the United States, Britain, Australia, and the European Union issued statements on the Jimmy Lai case.

The High Court of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Monday sentenced Jimmy Lai, an instigator of anti-China riots in Hong Kong, to 20 years in prison.