Jimmy Lai, a key figure of pro-democracy forces in Hong Kong, and founder of the now-defunct newspaper Apple Daily is set to face trial under Hong Kong’s national security law. He is being charged with collusion with foreign forces.
The prosecution of Lai followed a report that his newspaper supported the anti-government protests of 2019, which Beijing characterizes as posing a challenge to national stability. In court, Lai said that Apple Daily espoused Hong Kong’s core values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law. “I reject violence and independence for Hong Kong,” he added.
This trial has drawn international attention because of its implications for press freedom and democratic rights in Hong Kong. Lai, in solitary confinement since 2020, has become a symbol of resistance against Beijing’s tightening grip on the city.
Rights organizations and global leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, have voiced concern over his deteriorating health and called for him to be released. The trial also follows the sentencing of the “Hong Kong 47,” further reflecting Beijing’s aggressive stance against political dissent.
The national security law, introduced in 2020, has significantly altered the political and legal landscape in Hong Kong, enabling authorities to target pro-democracy activists under vague charges. Lai’s prosecution highlights the crackdown on freedom of speech and media, with Apple Daily previously being forced to shut down due to legal and financial pressures.
The trial underscores the challenges facing those who continue to advocate for democracy and civil liberties in the region.
Lai’s case has sparked passionate reactions from the international world of governments. US President-elect Donald Trump has promised to do all that it takes to free Lai, and Starmer has also brought up this issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a G20 Summit meeting.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s authorities cannot say otherwise but stick to the national security law against perceived threats.
Prodemocracy circles in Hong Kong remain strong in support for Lai, as witnessed in crowded congregations outside the court in an act of demonstration of solidarity. In fact, it is a moment of significance not just for him but also reflective of the greater struggle over Hong Kong’s future as the bastion of freedoms in an increasingly authoritarian framework imposed by Beijing.
