China has released a white paper defending Hong Kong’s approach to safeguarding national security, presenting the measures as essential to maintaining stability in a volatile global environment. The document, issued on Tuesday by China’s State Council and reported by the official Xinhua news agency, underscores Beijing’s determination to justify its tightening grip on the financial hub amid rising international criticism.
The release came just one day after a Hong Kong court sentenced media tycoon and democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison in a landmark case under the city’s national security law. Lai, one of Hong Kong’s most prominent critics of Beijing and the founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, was convicted on two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of publishing seditious materials.
The white paper portrays Hong Kong’s national security framework as a necessary safeguard to ensure social order, economic confidence, and the city’s continued role as a global financial centre. It argues that external interference and internal threats have made strong security measures unavoidable, positioning the law as a stabilising force rather than a tool of repression.
Hong Kong’s leader, John Lee, strongly endorsed the court’s decision, saying that Lai deserved the lengthy sentence given the damage he had caused. Speaking on Tuesday, Lee said the punishment reflected the seriousness of the crimes and sent a clear message that acts endangering national security would not be tolerated. His comments reinforced the government’s hard line and its alignment with Beijing’s narrative on security and sovereignty.
Lai’s conviction and the timing of the white paper have drawn renewed attention to the sweeping impact of the national security law, which was imposed by Beijing in 2020. Critics argue it has eroded civil liberties, curtailed press freedom, and silenced dissent in Hong Kong, while Chinese and local authorities insist it has restored order after years of political unrest.
The case marks one of the most significant prosecutions under the law to date and is widely seen as a warning to activists, journalists, and opposition figures. As Beijing doubles down on its defence of the legislation, the future of political expression and independent media in Hong Kong appears increasingly constrained under the banner of national security.
