The Hong Kong government strongly condemned what it called attempts by anti-China forces and foreign media to whitewash the criminal actions of jailed former media executive Jimmy Lai Chee-ying. Authorities defended the city's press freedom, accusing critics of slandering and attacking Hong Kong following a global press freedom index release.

The Hong Kong government has condemned attempts by anti-China forces and foreign media to sugarcoat the criminal acts of jailed former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, while defending the city’s press freedom after the release of a global index. Authorities issued a strongly-worded statement in the early hours of Friday, slamming the attempts to slander, smear and attack the city “by releasing a so-called press freedom index”, saying that “such despicable behaviours totally disregarded the rule.....