Lai, 76, was arrested in August 2020 during a crackdown on the city\u2019s pro-democracy movement under the sweeping national security law enacted following huge protests four years ago. He is charged with colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security and conspiring with others to put out seditious publications.<\/p>\n
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Jimmy Lai walks through the Stanley prison in Hong Kong, in July.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>AP<\/cite><\/p>\n The closely watched case \u2014 tied to the now-shuttered pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily<\/em> that Lai founded \u2014 is widely seen as a trial of press freedom and a test for judicial independence in the Asian financial hub.<\/p>\n China promised that the former British colony could retain its Western-style civil liberties for 50 years after returning to Chinese rule in 1997. But in recent years, the Hong Kong government has severely limited free speech and assembly and virtually eliminated political opposition under the rubric of maintaining national security. Many leading activists were arrested, silenced or forced into self-exile.<\/p>\n Lai\u2019s trial is Hong Kong\u2019s first on charges of collusion with foreign forces. It also targets three companies related to Apple Daily<\/em>.<\/p>\n Lai smiled and waved at his supporters after he walked into the courtroom. Some members of the public waved at Lai to show their support. Hong Kong\u2019s Roman Catholic Cardinal Joseph Zen, a vocal democracy advocate in the city, and representatives from foreign consulates were among the attendees.<\/p>\n Activist Alexandra Wong, also known as Grandma Wong, holds a flag of Britain outside West Kowloon Magistrates\u2019 Courts where the trial is taking place.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>AP<\/cite><\/p>\n Three judges, approved by the government, are overseeing the proceedings. The trial is expected to last about 80 days.<\/p>\n Last year, six former Apple Daily<\/em> executives entered guilty pleas to collusion charges, admitting to the court they conspired with Lai to call for sanctions or other hostile activities against Hong Kong or China. They were convicted and await sentencing behind bars.<\/p>\n Some of the former executives, alongside two others who also pleaded guilty to collusion charges, are expected to testify as witnesses for the prosecution of Lai.<\/p>\n Outside the court building, there was a heavy police presence. Dozens of residents queued up to attend the hearing hours before its start.<\/p>\n Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who founded local newspaper Apple Daily, entering a court in Hong Kong in 2020.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>AP<\/cite><\/p>\n Jolly Chung, 29, was among the first in the line, saying she would try to get in to observe the proceedings whenever she can.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a Hong Konger, I want to witness this, even though I know he will lose,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Andy Sung, in his 40s, said he came to witness history. \u201cChoosing to come here is a small practice of some sort of resistance,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Pro-democracy activist Alexandra Wong, popularly known as \u201cGrandma Wong,\u201d was blocked from approaching the court building by the police.<\/p>\n \u201cSupport Jimmy Lai, support the Apple Daily<\/em>, support the truth,\u201d she chanted.<\/p>\n Lai\u2019s trial was originally scheduled to start last December but was postponed while the Hong Kong government appealed to Beijing to effectively block his attempt to hire a British defence lawyer. City authorities subsequently barred the lawyer, Timothy Owen, from representing Lai, saying it would likely pose national security risks.<\/p>\n Last week, Lai\u2019s son Sebastien met with Britain\u2019s foreign secretary, David Cameron, to lobby for Britain\u2019s help in freeing his father, who holds British citizenship.<\/p>\n Cameron said in a statement that the security law is a \u201cclear breach\u201d of the Sino-British Joint Declaration and its continued use shows China has broken its international commitments.<\/p>\n British and Chinese authorities signed the agreement in 1984, stipulating that Hong Kong would retain a high degree of autonomy and freedoms for 50 years.<\/p>\n Cameron said he was particularly concerned by the \u201cpolitically motivated prosecution\u201d of Lai. He urged Chinese officials to repeal the security law and release Lai.<\/p>\n \u201cJimmy Lai has been targeted in a clear attempt to stop the peaceful exercise of his rights to freedom of expression and association,\u201d Cameron said.<\/p>\n The US condemned the prosecution of Lai and urged authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing to respect press freedom, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe call on Hong Kong authorities to immediately release Jimmy Lai and all others imprisoned for defending their rights,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The chairpersons of the US Congressional-Executive Commission on China said in a statement that the trial is a \u201cpolitical prosecution plain and simple and another sad example of the Hong Kong government\u2019s increasingly repressive policies.\u201d They also called for Lai\u2019s release and urged authorities to drop the charges against him.<\/p>\n Hong Kong, once seen as a bastion of media freedom in Asia, ranked 140th out of 180 countries and territories in Reporters Without Borders\u2019 latest World Press Freedom Index. The group said the city had seen an \u201cunprecedented setback\u201d since 2020, when the security law was imposed.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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