Chinese State Council's Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office and the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Sunday separately condemned the criminal intimidation against a judge, saying the intimidator must be strictly punished. 

After handing down sentences on Jimmy Lai and nine other defendants who were convicted of organizing and inciting others to participate in an illegal assembly, Amanda Jane Woodcock, the judge in charge, received phone calls that threatened to harm her and her family. 

The intimidation against the judge is appalling and outrageous in Hong Kong, a city known for the rule of law, the spokespersons for the two offices said, stressing that such action blatantly jeopardizes law and order, and harms public interests. 

The offices firmly support the judiciary in assuming their responsibilities according to the law and support the police in taking resolute actions to safeguard the rule of law, the spokespersons said. 

They also stressed the significant role of the national security law in the HKSAR which took effect last year, saying that many extremists and radicals who committed crimes during the social unrest have received the punishment they deserved. 

It helped restore peace and order in Hong Kong, demonstrated the rule of law, and enhanced the confidence of the public and the international community in the rule of law in Hong Kong, they said.