香港特區高等法院於15日作出裁決，壹傳媒創辦人黎智英涉嫌兩項串謀勾結外國勢力罪、一項串謀發布煽動刊物罪全部成立。這是司法機構依法、公正、公開作出的裁決，充分體現香港的法治精神，有力維護了香港的國家安全，廣大香港市民對此拍手稱快。香港新聞聯堅決支持高等法院此次裁決，堅定支持香港特區履行維護國家安全的憲制責任。

但令人不齒的是，香港記者協會（簡稱「香港記協」）公然跳出来抹黑法院裁決，與境外反華勢力沆瀣一氣、狼狽為奸。香港記協的謬論完全罔顧事實真相，蓄意混淆法律邊界，為危害國家安全的違法首惡張目，是對香港法治的嚴重踐踏，更是對香港新聞自由的嚴重抹黑。香港新聞聯對此表示最強烈的譴責與堅決反對。

黎智英的罪行鐵證如山、罄竹難書。案件審理過程中披露的大量證據和事實，揭露了黎智英勾結外部勢力，充當港版「顏色革命」幕後黑手，策劃一系列反中亂港事件，乞求外國對華對港實施制裁的累累罪行。作為案件公認的幕後主腦，他長期操縱《蘋果日報》等輿論工具充當反中亂港勢力的組織動員平台，肆意製造和傳播謠言、挑撥對立、煽動仇恨、鼓吹暴力，給香港市民留下徹骨之痛，被香港社會和新聞業界深惡痛絕地斥為「毒蘋果」。在香港國安法落地實施之後仍不知收斂，繼續從事危害國家安全的行為和活動。無論黎智英打著什麼幌子，都掩飾不了外部勢力走狗爪牙的角色，都逃脫不了法律對其的嚴正制裁。

香港記協不僅無視上述事實，反而惡意攻擊法院判決，已經完全站在香港法治和廣大市民的對立面。香港記協喪失新聞操守，突破職業底線，多番無理攻擊香港國安法，公開詆毀特區法律，包庇違法暴徒行徑，早已淪為外部勢力的亂港工具，完全暴露其假借所謂「新聞自由」搞亂香港的真面目。

必須嚴正指出，法治是香港社會的核心價值，新聞自由從來不是無邊界的「特權」，更不能成為違法犯罪的「擋箭牌」。香港回歸以來，「一國兩制」實踐取得舉世公認的成功，這是不容否認的事實。香港國安法實施以來，香港的新聞自由在安全、穩定、法治的環境中得到更好保障。黎智英案的裁決不僅無損香港新聞自由，更為新聞業的健康發展築牢法治底線。

香港新聞聯堅定支持香港特區政府和司法機構依法履行維護國家安全的職責，堅決捍衛香港國安法的權威。我們要求香港記協立即停止對香港法治的攻擊，立即停止對香港新聞自由的抹黑，立即放棄與外部勢力勾連的企圖。任何假借「新聞自由」之名危害國家安全、破壞社會穩定的行為，都必將受到法律的制裁。

The High Court of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) delivered its verdict on the 15th, finding Jimmy Lai, founder of Next Digital, guilty of two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of conspiracy to publish seditious publications. This ruling was made by the judiciary in accordance with the law, justly and openly, fully embodies the spirit of the rule of law in Hong Kong and effectively safeguards national security in the region, which has been widely applauded by the Hong Kong public. The Hong Kong Federation of Journalists (HKFJ) firmly supports the High Court's verdict and stands resolutely behind the HKSAR in fulfilling its constitutional responsibility to safeguard national security.

It is, however, utterly disgraceful that the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) has brazenly stepped forward to smear the court's ruling, colluding in bad faith with anti-China forces overseas. The HKJA's fallacious arguments completely disregard facts and truth, deliberately blur the boundaries of the law, defend the ringleader of illegal acts that endanger national security, constitute a gross trampling on the rule of law in Hong Kong, and are a blatant defamation of press freedom in the region. The Hong Kong Federation of Journalists expresses its strongest condemnation and resolute opposition to such acts.

Jimmy Lai's crimes are backed by irrefutable evidence and are too numerous to record. A wealth of evidence and facts presented during the trial have exposed that Jimmy Lai colluded with external forces, acted as the mastermind behind the "color revolution" in Hong Kong, plotted a series of anti-China and destabilizing activities in the region, and begged foreign countries to impose sanctions against China and Hong Kong. As the acknowledged mastermind of these cases, he long manipulated media outlets such as Apple Daily to serve as a platform for organizing and mobilizing anti-China and destabilizing forces in Hong Kong, wantonly creating and spreading rumors, inciting divisions, stirring up hatred, advocating violence, and leaving an indelible pain on the Hong Kong public. He has been loathed by the Hong Kong society and the journalism industry as the "poisonous apple". Even after the implementation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (the National Security Law for Hong Kong), he still refused to desist and continued to engage in acts and activities that endanger national security. No matter what pretexts Jimmy Lai may use, he cannot conceal his role as a puppet and lackey of external forces, and he will never escape the severe legal sanctions that await him.

Turning a blind eye to all the above facts, the HKJA has instead viciously attacked the court's verdict, placing itself completely in opposition to the rule of law in Hong Kong and the overwhelming majority of the Hong Kong public. Having abandoned journalistic ethics and crossed professional bottom lines, the HKJA has repeatedly launched unreasonable attacks against the National Security Law for Hong Kong, publicly slandered the laws of the HKSAR, and shielded the illegal and violent acts of rioters. It has long degenerated into a tool for external forces to destabilize Hong Kong, fully revealing its true colors of using the so-called "press freedom" to undermine the stability of the region.

It must be solemnly pointed out that the rule of law is a core value of Hong Kong society, and press freedom has never been an unrestricted "privilege", let alone a "shield" for illegal and criminal activities. Since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the practice of "One Country, Two Systems" has achieved universally recognized success, which is an undeniable fact. Since the implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong, press freedom in Hong Kong has been better protected in a safe, stable and law-based environment. The verdict in Jimmy Lai's case not only does not undermine press freedom in Hong Kong, but also strengthens the legal bottom line for the healthy development of the journalism industry.

The HKFJ firmly supports the HKSAR Government and judicial authorities in performing their duties to safeguard national security in accordance with the law, and is resolute in upholding the authority of the National Security Law for Hong Kong. We demand that the HKJA immediately cease its attacks on the rule of law in Hong Kong, stop smearing press freedom in the region at once, and abandon its attempts to collude with external forces without delay. Any act that endangers national security and undermines social stability in the name of "press freedom" shall surely be subject to legal sanctions.