Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been in a high-security jail for greater than 1,600 days.
The 77-year-old was arrested over his position in pro-democracy protests in 2019 and has since been charged with numerous offences, together with collusion with international forces, in addition to sedition underneath colonial-era legal guidelines.
His trial for alleged nationwide safety offences has confronted prolonged delays, however is because of restart in Hong Kong on Thursday.
Right here is every part you could know concerning the “world’s most famous prisoner of conscience” and his trial, because it attracts ever nearer to a long-awaited conclusion.
Who’s Jimmy Lai?
Lai was born in mainland China however fled to Hong Kong on the age of 12, after stowing away on a fishing boat. Right here, he started working as a baby labourer in a garment manufacturing facility.
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Lai throughout a protest in 2019
The paper was staunchly pro-democratic and didn’t draw back from criticising authorities in Beijing.
Across the similar time, in 1994, he turned a full British citizen. He has by no means held a Chinese language or Hong Kong passport, however is seen as a Chinese language citizen by Hong Kong authorities.
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Protesters conflict with riot police in 2019. Pic: Reuters
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Pic: Reuters
Why is he in jail?
Lai and his sons have been arrested in August 2020 after police raided the workplaces of the Apple Day by day writer, Subsequent Digital. He was granted bail, however this was overturned in December of the identical yr, when Lai was charged with fraud.
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Jimmy Lai pictured arriving at court docket in December 2020. Pic: AP
He was charged underneath the very nationwide safety legal guidelines, put in place in 2020, that he had protested.
The costs embody collusion with international forces, in addition to conspiracy to print and distribute seditious publications.
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Subsequent Digital publishes the Apple Day by day newspaper. Pic: AP
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A employee packs copies of Apple Day by day newspaper. Pic: AP
Lai has been in solitary confinement for many of his imprisonment. Throughout this time, he has misplaced a major quantity of weight and his son, Sebastien Lai, has persistently raised considerations for his father’s declining well being.
His authorized workforce has claimed he has been denied unbiased medical take care of diabetes, is simply allowed out of his cell for 50 minutes a day and, as a religious Catholic, has been denied the Eucharist.
Nevertheless, this week the South China Morning Submit has reported a Hong Kong authorities spokesman saying that Lai had obtained acceptable remedy and welfare in jail.
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Lai shouts slogan earlier than he’s taken away by police in 2014. Pic: Reuters
What has occurred throughout his trial thus far?
After years of delay, Lai’s nationwide safety trial began in December 2023.
Prosecutors allege that Lai conspired with senior executives at Apple Day by day to publish 161 seditious articles supposed to incite hatred towards the central or Hong Kong governments.
They labelled him a “radical political figure” and accused him of asking the US and different international international locations to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and mainland China.
The costs he faces underneath the territory’s nationwide safety regulation might see him handed a life sentence.
However Lai has at all times denied the costs towards him.
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Lai arriving at court docket in 2020. Pic: AP
Practically a yr after the trial began, in November 2024, Lai took to the stand to testify. Throughout his 52 days on the stand he confronted questions on his editorial management over Apple Day by day, hyperlinks to activists in Hong Kong, the UK and US – and about alleged conferences with US politicians.
Closing arguments within the trial have been attributable to begin on 28 July, however have been delayed till 14 August. The following listening to is because of final round eight days.
How is the British authorities concerned?
As he’s a British citizen, the UK authorities expressed concern when Lai was first charged underneath the nationwide safety regulation in 2020.
Subsequent British governments, together with the present Labour one, have mentioned Lai’s imprisonment is a breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration – the 1984 settlement which set out the circumstances of the switch of Hong Kong from the UK to China.
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Sebastien Lai handing a letter into 10 Downing Road in March
Three months after successful the overall election, Sir Keir Starmer mentioned securing Lai’s launch was a “priority” for his authorities and mentioned his authorities would “continue” to lift the case with China.
Most lately, throughout a January journey to China, Chancellor Rachel Reeves mentioned she raised the query over Lai’s imprisonment with each minister she met. Overseas Secretary David Lammy mentioned he has additionally pressed Chinese language international minister Wang Yi on Lai’s detention throughout earlier visits.
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In March, Lai’s son, Sebastien, delivered a letter to 10 Downing Road asking for a gathering with Sir Keir to get his father launched instantly.
He mentioned he was frightened his father may die in jail and the case is a “litmus test” for the federal government to see if it’s going to stand as much as China for a British citizen who’s in jail “for peaceful campaigning and journalism”.
