Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai’s trial begins

Hong Kong’s pro-democracy enterprise tycoon Jimmy Lai, who is understood for criticising Chinese leaders, is going through a long-awaited trial over costs that he “colluded with international forces”.

Lai, 76, has denied all costs levelled in opposition to him.

He was jailed in December 2020.

If discovered responsible, then he faces life in jail.

He was arrested underneath the National Security Law, which China has been accused of wielding to crush dissent, reported BBC.

Lai, who appeared in court docket on Monday flanked by jail guards, is certainly one of greater than 250 activists, lawmakers and protesters who’ve been detained underneath National Security Law (NSL) and sedition costs since 2020, the British media reported.

The trial is anticipated to happen for 80 days.

Lai’s worldwide authorized staff informed the BBC he has been denied his proper to a good listening to.

Jonathan Price, a member of Lai’s London-based authorized staff, described it as “lawfare”.

UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron reacted to the incident and posted on X: “At the beginning of Jimmy Lai’s nationwide safety trial in Hong Kong, I name on the Hong Kong authorities to finish his prosecution and launch him.”

Who is Jimmy Lai?

Born in China, Lai moved to Hong Kong as a baby. He is at present a British citizen.

He is the founding father of Giordano, an Asian clothes retailer, Next Digital (previously Next Media), a Hong Kong-listed media firm, and the favored newspaper Apple Daily.

The Chinese authorities considers anybody of Chinese heritage born in China to be a Chinese nationwide.

The Chinese authorities doesn’t recognise twin nationality and subsequently considers Lai to be completely Chinese.

The National Security Law was imposed by Beijing on 30 June 2020.

The UK declared its imposition to be a breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration on 2 July 2020.