Jimmy Lai Case Set for June Conclusion
At his ongoing national security trial, Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai (黎智英) once again denied asking the U.S. to sanction China this week. Speaking on the 24th day of Lai’s cross-examination, he said that his intention was for foreign countries to link human rights and freedom in Hong Kong to deals made with China.
Lai’s defense is now expected to re-examine him for one day this week before the trial is adjourned ahead of closing arguments. The prosecution has estimated that if both sides take six weeks to prepare closing arguments then the trial could come to a conclusion by the end of June.
Faced with a life sentence on two different charges under the same national security law, 77-year-old Lai has denied trying to influence foreign policy in Hong Kong and defended the idea of “delivering freedom” through pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily.
Lai’s Son Calls on U.K. Prime Minister for Help
Jimmy Lai’s son, Sebastien Lai (黎崇恩), has called on U.K. Prime Minister Kier Starmer to help push for his father’s release.
After delivering a letter to Downing Street on Monday, Sebastien Lai said “It would take less than three hours for them to put him on a plane and send him back home to the U.K.,” adding, “So if they’re not even willing to do something like this in such a clear-cut case, where he might very well die in jail, then what else can we expect from them?”
Prime Minister Starmer has previously said that securing Jimmy Lai’s release is a “priority” in U.K.-China relations.
U.K. Government ‘Deeply Concerned’ Over Activist Bounties
Answering questions in the U.K. Parliament, U.K. Minister of State Dan Jarvis said this week that the government was “deeply concerned” with bounties placed on Hong Kong activists living in the U.K. and repeated calls from the U.K.’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy to repeal Hong Kong’s National Security Law, “including its extraterritorial reach.”
Nineteen year-old Chloe Cheung (張晞晴) became one of six activists to be newly listed as wanted in December, which brought the total of exiled Hong Kongers with arrest warrants and bounties against them to 19.
Activist’s Relatives Questioned by National Security Police
Three relatives of the activist Carmen Lau (劉珈汶) have been questioned by national security police acting under the National Security Law. Carmen is working with the US-based NGO Hong Kong Democracy Council. Her uncle and auntie were brought to a police station for questioning last week and this week an unnamed third relative was also brought in for questioning.
Carmen told a Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation webinar on Tuesday that her neighbours in the U.K. had been receiving “wanted notes” encouraging them to take her into the Chinese embassy in London.
Oldest Pro-Democracy Party Shutting Down
Hong Kong’s largest pro-democracy party, tThe Democratic Party, is looking to shut down. Party chairman Lo Kin-hei ( (羅健熙) told a press conference the decision was based on the current political situation and social climate. The party was founded in 1994.
Pro-democracy candidates have effectively been barred from running for seats in district councils since the introduction of the 2020 National Security Law, but the party has held news briefings and submitted opinions on proposed national security legislation to the government since then.
The final decision on the future of the party will be left to a members’ vote.
Hong Kong Government Criticizes U.S. Senate Committee Resolution
Hong Kong’s government has criticized a U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs resolution which condemned the “destruction of Hong Kong’s autonomy through the 2020 ‘national security law’ and the 2024 ‘Article 23 Ordinance,’ as well as the Hong Kong authorities’ human rights abuses against people inside and outside of Hong Kong.”
A Hong Kong government statement said the resolution represented “political maneuvring and reckless clamoring,” and Chinese government spokesperson Lin Jian (林劍) said U.S. politicians have repeatedly advocated imposing sanctions on Hong Kong to undermine its rule of law, prosperity and stability.
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