London: Chinese Ambassador to Britain Zheng Zeguang on Monday lodged solemn representations over the British foreign secretary's remarks on the conviction of Jimmy Lai, an instigator of anti-China riots in Hong Kong. When meeting with a senior official of Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Zheng criticized British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper for making what he termed as irresponsible remarks regarding Lai's conviction and accused her of smearing the National Security Law for Hong Kong.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the ambassador stated that such remarks constitute gross interference in China's internal affairs, undermine the spirit of the rule of law, and seriously violate basic international norms. Jimmy Lai was found guilty on Monday on two charges of conspiring to collude with external forces and was also charged with conspiracy to publish seditious materials. The verdict was delivered by the High Court of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) concerning the national security case involving Lai and three companies associated with the now-defunct Apple Daily.

The Chinese embassy in Britain released a read-out stating that Lai was the primary planner and participant in a series of anti-China riots in Hong Kong. The embassy rejected the British side's claim that Lai was "peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression." Ambassador Zheng further emphasized that Britain's colonial rule over Hong Kong has ended, asserting that Britain has no position or right to interfere in Hong Kong affairs.

Zheng warned that any attempts by Britain to interfere in Hong Kong's judicial affairs would only reveal its intent to destabilize Hong Kong, provoke widespread indignation among Hong Kong's society, and ultimately prove futile.