Jimmy Lai was sentenced to one year in prison. The billionaire was also de facto expropriated: major banks such as HSBC and Citibank received mail from Hong Kong’s security authorities, stating the range of penalties for doing business with the rebellious billionaire: up to seven years in prison. Lai is not allowed to give interviews, comment on social media or meet representatives from foreign countries.
In his last BBC interview before the conviction, he was adamant: “If they can scare you, that’s the easiest way to control you. It’s also the most effective way, and they know it. The only way to be intimidated is met by looking fear in the eye. “
His newspaper continued to publish.
In June, the Beijing-backed Hong Kong government launched a second major raid on Apple Daily. The end of the newspaper was sealed. Dozens of managers have been arrested and the assets of media companies and Lai themselves have been frozen.
What remains
China’s partners now know what to keep from promises in terms of democracy: Hong Kong should actually be governed independently according to the principle of “one country, two systems”. In 1997, the seven million Hong Kong residents were promised that they would be able to enjoy “a high degree of autonomy” and many political freedoms for 50 years until 2047. Since the Security Act was passed, many have only spoken of “one country, one system”.
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