A Beijing official said Hong Kong's judges handed down the right judgement in the case involving Jimmy Lai, founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily. Sun Qingye, deputy head of the Office for Safeguarding National Security, made the remarks on the sidelines of the ongoing Two Sessions in Beijing, after Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison on three national security-related charges last month. Sun, also a delegate to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, told RTHK that the judges in Lai's case should not be subject to sanctions imposed by foreign nations. "The judges handed down the ruling based on his criminal acts in accordance with the National Security Law. Therefore, they made a very good judgement. I think there wasn't any flaws," he said. Sun also said he's not worried about new sanctions that may be imposed by foreign countries on Hong Kong and mainland officials. He expressed confidence in the situation in Hong Kong now that the National Security Law and Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, enacted in line with Article 23 of the Basic Law, are in force. "I believe Hong Kong’s national security situation will be even better, with the safeguards becoming increasingly robust," Sun said. "In the coming five years, as long as the SAR adheres to the National Security Law and Article 23, I have full confidence [in the city’s national security]." Sun also said Hong Kong should further enhance financial, technology as well as cyber security in the future to protect national security. Meanwhile, Lai's lawyer said on Friday he would not lodge an appeal against his conviction and 20-year prison sentence. Edited by Edmond Fong