KYODO NEWS - Apr 20, 2020 - 21:33 | World, All

China's Foreign Ministry said Monday it condemns and opposes interference by politicians in Western countries over Hong Kong police's crackdown on democracy advocates.

"Certain Western politicians' gossips and criticisms over Hong Kong police's making arrests according to law, and even demands that charges be dropped, are gross interference in China's Hong Kong affairs and a serious violation of Hong Kong's rule of law and judicial independence," spokesman Geng Shuang said in a regular briefing in Beijing.

"We express strong condemnation and staunch opposition to it," he said, adding that nobody is above the law and Hong Kong police's law enforcement should "not be subject to distortion or smears."

"Hong Kong matters are China's internal affairs not to be intervened by any foreign forces. We urge the relevant sides to respect Hong Kong's rule of law and judicial independence, stop endorsing anti-China Hong Kong disruptors and meddling in China's domestic affairs," Geng said.

At least 15 people were arrested Saturday for allegedly organizing and taking part in unauthorized march protests last year, during some of the hundreds of anti-government demonstrations that began in June in opposition to a now-withdrawn extradition bill.

They include veteran democrats Martin Lee and Margaret Ng, both barristers and former lawmakers, media mogul Jimmy Lai, founder of the anti-government Apple Daily newspaper, former and incumbent lawmakers, and activists from radical groups

Foreign countries including the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia have either condemned or expressed concerns over the mass crackdown as China's infringement upon the rule of law in Hong Kong.

"Canada supports the right of peaceful protest and Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy and freedoms under the Basic Law and the One Country, Two Systems framework," Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said in a statement. "Canada will continue to closely monitor the situation in Hong Kong."

Foreign legal communities have jointly urged Hong Kong authorities to drop the charges and stop "politicized and targeted prosecutions."

Related coverage:

U.S., Britain condemn Hong Kong's crackdown on democracy activists

Hong Kong public discontent worsens amid virus outbreak

Hong Kong pro-democracy publisher, activists arrested over protest