The SAR government on Saturday accused the BBC of making false accusations about Hong Kong’s national security law and smearing the legislation in its reporting of the sentencing of a group of people convicted of rioting.

The administration said in a statement that it was “necessary … to set the record straight” after the British broadcaster claimed that the security law had reduced Hong Kong’s autonomy.

"Article 1 of the Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL) clearly stipulates the purpose of the enactment of the law is to ensure the resolute, full and faithful implementation of the policy of 'one country, two systems' under which the people of Hong Kong administer Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy,” an SAR spokesman said.

“The report concerned completely disregarded the relevant provision and slandered the NSL with false accusations that it reduced Hong Kong's autonomy.”

The spokesman noted that, under Article 63 of the Basic Law, the Department of Justice controls criminal prosecutions free from any interference.

“No country will watch with folded arms acts and activities that endanger national security,” the spokesman added.

“The [BBC] report attempted to shift the focus with false accusations to mislead people into believing that the legislative intent of the NSL is to 'make it easier to prosecute protesters', thereby creating a negative impression of the law."

The BBC’s report was on the imprisonment on Saturday of 12 people for storming the Legislative Council in 2019.