ISTANBUL

China on Saturday slammed a new European Parliament resolution on the prosecution of a prominent Hong Kong publisher.

The resolution, passed on Thursday, "disregards facts and legal principles, smears and discredits 'one country, two systems' and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's national security law, openly interferes in Hong Kong's judicial affairs, and crudely interferes in China's internal affairs," said a spokesperson for China’s Mission to the EU.

The non-binding resolution was passed in response to what lawmakers called Hong Kong authorities’ "arbitrary prosecution” of publisher and “pro-democracy activist” Jimmy Lai, which the parliament condemned "in the strongest terms."

Last month, the Chinese-born British citizen, 78, was found guilty on all three counts, including "conspiring to collude with foreign forces" as well as sedition under colonial-era legislation. He faces a maximum life sentence.

The MEPs urged member states to suspend extradition treaties with China and Hong Kong, called on the European Commission to initiate suspension of the city’s status under the World Trade Organization (WTO), and urged the European Council to sanction Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee and other officials "responsible for the crackdown on freedoms."

But the Chinese spokesmen said that Hong Kong judicial authorities are handling Lai's case "independently and impartially in accordance with the law, and no external forces have the right to interfere.”

Beijing urged the European Parliament to "respect China's sovereignty and the rule of law in Hong Kong, stop supporting anti-China and destabilizing elements in Hong Kong, and stop interfering in Hong Kong's judicial affairs and China's internal affairs in any form."

"The central government will firmly support the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in governing Hong Kong in accordance with the law," the spokesperson added.

Until 2021, Lai was the publisher of Apple Daily, a mass-circulation Hong Kong tabloid.