Chief Executive-elect John Lee Ka-chiu has dismissed criticism from the West over the recent arrests of a cardinal and four other opposition activists, saying Hong Kong remains a place with the rule of law, where only criminals are targeted and not dissent.

A spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry’s office in the city also hit back on Sunday at US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who condemned the arrests and lauded Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun as an “outspoken champion of democracy” and “a critical voice of conscience”.

Lee, also a Catholic, said people who breached the law needed to be held accountable regardless of their background or beliefs, responding publicly for the first time to the action on Wednesday by national security police.