HONG KONG, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Saturday condemned and rejected the erroneous remarks made on the same day by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor regarding Lai Chee-ying's case concerning the Hong Kong National Security Law.

A spokesperson for the HKSAR government pointed out that as the legal proceedings involving Lai Chee-ying are still ongoing, it is inappropriate for any person to comment on the details of the case.

The HKSAR government strongly urges any external forces to immediately stop interfering in the HKSAR's internal affairs and the independent exercise of judicial power by the courts of the HKSAR, said the spokesperson.

Stressing that the HKSAR government has emphasized time and again that all cases (including the case in question) are handled strictly on the basis of evidence and in accordance with the law, the spokesperson said that all defendants will receive fair trial strictly in accordance with laws applicable to Hong Kong (including the Hong Kong National Security Law) and as protected by the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights.

The spokesperson stressed that any attempt by any country, organization, or individual to interfere with the judicial proceedings in the HKSAR by means of political power, thereby resulting in a defendant not being able to have a fair trial that one should receive, is a reprehensible act undermining the rule of law of Hong Kong, and should be condemned.

The Commissioner's Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR on Saturday also strongly condemned and firmly rejected the erroneous remarks, urging the U.S. side to stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs, which are China's internal affairs.