Two Beijing-loyal newspapers in Hong Kong have added their voices to criticism from a Beijing mouthpiece, denouncing the judge who granted bail to media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai and suggesting that a national security official should take over the case.

In editorials on Monday, both Wen Wei Po and Ta Kung Pao questioned High Court Justice Lee Wan-tang’s rationale for approving Lai’s bail application last Wednesday. Lai had been held in custody since Dec. 3 over one count of fraud concerning land use and another of colluding with foreign countries.

Lai was freed on cash bail of HK$10 million and a surety of HK$100,000. He is also banned from meeting foreign officials, accepting media interviews or publishing articles and social media posts.

The editorials came after the Chinese government’s mouthpiece media, People’s Daily, condemned the Hong Kong court for granting bail to Lai, and suggested that the national security office had legal grounds to step in.

Wen Wei Po alleged that despite the bail conditions, Lai would not stop “plotting” acts to endanger China’s security. It said that even though Lai was ordered to stay home, he could still meet visitors secretly, such as pro-democracy politicians, in his residence.

The Beijing mouthpiece media outlet said Lee would fail in his duties if he was not “loyal to the legislative intent” of the national security law. Beijing imposed the draconian law in Hong Kong in June despite opposition by Hongkongers.

The Ta Kung Pao newspaper said the naming of Lai as a hero by United States Vice President Mike Pence and calls for Lai’s release by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo were evidence of Lai’s “blessings” from a forigen country. These were “clear facts” of Lai’s criminality, it said.

Citing provisions in the national security law, the newspaper said no bail should be granted in principle to suspects in such cases. It said Hong Kong courts may be incapable of handling Lai’s case, and the Office of Safeguarding National Security, controlled directly by Beijing, should take timely and resolute action to step in.

The office, set up in Hong Kong and headed by mainland official Zheng Yanxiong, can ask for Beijing’s approval to exercise its authority in complex or severe cases, or when the Hong Kong government is deemed unable to enforce the national security law.

Hong Kong’s Department of Justice is scheduled to appeal against Lai’s release on bail at a hearing on New Year’s Eve.

In addition to the editorials, the two Beijing-loyal newspapers also carried commentaries criticizing Lee’s decision in Lai’s case. One of the writers questioned whether Lee holds foreign citizenship, and whether he granted bail to Lai out of fear of being sanctioned by a foreign government.

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