Hong Kong Democracy Activist Jimmy Lai Found Guilty of Sedition, Collusion

TaiwanPlus News

After five years in a Hong Kong prison, the founder of Hong Kong's now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai has been found guilty of sedition and collusion with other countries. Taiwan and other governments have condemned the verdict and raised concerns over the city’s freedoms.

Transcript

00:00A convoy of buses carries jailed pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai away

00:07from a Hong Kong courthouse. The former media tycoon has been convicted of

00:12sedition and colluding with foreign forces. The ruling ends a nearly half

00:17year-long trial under the city's harsh national security law. Sentencing in a

00:22landmark case will begin in January, but he could face life in prison. Lai, founder

00:28of the now-defunct Apple Daily, has long been a vocal critic of China. He had

00:33pleaded not guilty to all charges. Outside, the impact Lai has had on Hong Kongers

00:38was clear, with supporters lining up down the block to get a seat in the

00:42courtroom, many who came out there overnight. They say they're worried about

00:47the 78-year-old, whose health has worsened after nearly five years in solitary

00:52confinement. But they stand behind his mission to protect democracy.

00:56Jimmy Lai represents a set of beliefs that are very common among Hong Kong people. You could say

01:04that. He himself has also done a lot of good things. His philosophy and values align with those of a

01:09large part of Hong Kong society. People who share similar ideals, democracy, freedom, justice and

01:16conscience. Maybe these sound a bit old-fashioned to say now.

01:20Critics say Lai's verdict is just the latest example of Hong Kong's eroding freedoms under its

01:28Beijing-backed government. Authorities there have increasingly clamped down on dissent since the

01:33passage of the national security law in 2020, following large-scale pro-democracy demonstrations.

01:39That's included press freedom. NGO Reporters Without Borders says Lai is one of over a hundred

01:45journalists still detained in China and Hong Kong, and urges countries to pressure China's government

01:50for his release. The only way of getting Jimmy Lai and all other detained journalists from Hong Kong

01:56is really the pressure of the international community and democracies, including President

02:00Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister. And it's up to them to speak with leader of CCP Xi Jinping and demand

02:08his release, especially because Jimmy Lai is UK citizen only.

02:13International reactions to Lai's conviction have been swift. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council,

02:19which handles relations with China, called out Hong Kong authorities for stifling speech and press

02:24freedom. While the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, lawmakers from dozens of countries

02:30called the case a sham trial that fell far short of international fair trial standards.

02:35Even before the ruling, Lai's case had gotten the attention of world leaders.

02:41U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly appealed to Chinese leader Xi Jinping to release Lai during

02:46their meeting in South Korea in October. But prior to the trial on Monday,

02:51Beijing signaled support for the Hong Kong government.

02:53With Lai now convicted and his sentence pending, journalists and pro-democracy advocates in Hong Kong

03:18are on high alert as the city grapples with the impacts of this case.

03:23Alex Chan and Irene Lin for Taiwan Plus.

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