Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai testified in court on Wednesday for the first time in his national security case, where he faces charges of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and publishing seditious materials. Lai, a British and Hong Kong citizen, is the founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily. He is one of the most high-profile political figures arrested under the sweeping national security law imposed by China on Hong Kong in 2020.
Lai’s testimony came just one day after 45 pro-democracy activists were sentenced to up to 10 years in prison in a separate national security case. In court, Lai explained how Apple Daily’s guiding principles aligned with the values of the people of Hong Kong, particularly in supporting the rule of law and fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly.
“We were always in support of movements for freedom,” Lai told the courtroom. Outside, around 100 supporters stood in the rain under umbrellas to show their solidarity, while hundreds of police officers were deployed around the courthouse. “Apple Daily was the voice of many Hong Kongers,” said William Wong, a 64-year-old retiree. “He’s done a lot for Hong Kong.”
Lai is charged with conspiring to request foreign sanctions against Hong Kong and China. Six former senior staff members of Apple Daily and its parent company, Next Digital, have already pleaded guilty to similar charges. The national security law was enacted by Beijing after pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong in 2019.
Lai has been in pre-trial detention for over 1,400 days and is serving a separate five-year, nine-month sentence for fraud. Diplomats from the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, and other countries attended the hearing, with the U.S. government condemning Lai’s prosecution and calling for his immediate release.
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