Dec 18, 2023 at 6:51 AM Update: an hour ago
The United States and the United Kingdom want China to release Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai. The Hong Kong democracy advocate will stand trial from Monday for “crimes against national security”.
76-year-old Lai has been in custody since 2020. He is critical of China and could get life in prison for violating the controversial security law.
Beijing imposed this law on the semi-autonomous region of Hong Kong in 2020. The law allows China to take tougher action against the opposition and activists.
Lai owned the Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily, which has now been discontinued. According to China, he has conspired with powerful foreign countries. Hong Kong’s prominent democracy campaigner is being prosecuted for “crimes against national security”.
The EU expresses its concerns, Beijing speaks of slander and interference
“As a prominent and outspoken journalist and publisher, Jimmy Lai has become the target of an action aimed at restricting his freedom of expression and association,” British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said in a statement.
Cameron met Sebastien Lai, the son of the former publisher, in London last Tuesday. China reacted angrily. Beijing says the United Kingdom has “evil intentions” with Hong Kong. The city was a British colony.
The US is also calling for immediate release. Since the introduction of the security law, pro-democracy movements in Hong Kong have been suppressed.
“The United States condemns the prosecution of pro-democracy activist and media owner Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong under the Chinese-imposed security law,” a US State Department spokesperson said.
The European Union and the United Nations have also expressed their concerns about Lai. Beijing called that criticism slander and interference.
Beeld: Getty Images
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2023-12-18 05:51:59
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