Loopholes for foreign meddling must be plugged

Those claiming that Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, founder of Hong Kong media group Next Digital, who faces charges under the special administrative region's national security law, has the right to hire any lawyer he likes to defend him, even if he or she has no local qualifications, are the same ones that he colluded with or who supported him in his transforming of a normal debate on a proposed extradition bill into a large-scale protest and then prolonged public disorder.

Considering the sensitivity of Lai's national security charges, one of which was that he was suspected of "colluding with a foreign country or external elements to endanger national security", it goes against common sense that his request should be granted as it would open a new channel for foreign powers to intervene in China's internal affairs.

That's why the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has submitted a request to the 13th National People's Congress Standing Committee, which is convening its 38th session in Beijing, to further interpret the national security law in response to Lai's request.