'No one can evade legal punishment under guise of democracy,' says China

China on Tuesday said that no one can evade legal punishment "under the guise of democracy" after a court in Hong Kong convicted 45 people, state-run media reported.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said: "No one can engage in illegal activities under the guise of democracy and attempt to evade legal punishment."

Beijing's statement came after Hong Kong High Court heard the "conspiracy to subvert the state power" case and sentenced 45 people, including former lawmakers, to different jail terms.

“The central government firmly supports Hong Kong special autonomous region in safeguarding national security, punishing activities that endanger national security, and firmly oppose certain individual Western countries interfering in China's internal affairs, smearing and undermining the rule of law in Hong Kong by using specific judicial cases,” Lin said.

Those convicted included Benny Tai, former legal academic, and former lawmakers Wu Chi-wai, Lam Cheuk-ting and Alvin Yeung.

Thirty-one of them pleaded guilty and 14 others were convicted in May for taking part in a plot to overthrow the government by securing a majority in the Legislative Council and indiscriminately voting down the administration's budget and spending initiatives to cause a constitutional crisis.

They were sentenced to four to 10 years in prison.