HONG KONG — A landmark nationwide safety trial opened Monday in Hong Kong for distinguished activist and writer Jimmy Lai, who faces a doable life sentence if convicted underneath a legislation imposed by Beijing to crush dissidents.
Lai, 76, was arrested in August 2020 throughout a crackdown on town’s pro-democracy motion underneath the sweeping nationwide safety legislation enacted following big protests 4 years in the past. He was charged with colluding with overseas forces to hazard nationwide safety and conspiring with others to place out seditious publications.
Learn Extra: ‘It’s So A lot Worse Than Anybody Anticipated.’ Why Hong Kong’s Nationwide Safety Regulation Is Having Such a Chilling Impact
The carefully watched case — tied to the now-shuttered pro-democracy newspaper Apple Each day that Lai based — is broadly seen as a trial of press freedom and a take a look at for judicial independence within the Asian monetary hub.
China promised that the previous British colony might retain its Western-style civil liberties for 50 years after returning to Chinese language rule in 1997. However lately, the Hong Kong authorities has severely restricted free speech and meeting and nearly eradicated political opposition underneath the rubric of sustaining nationwide safety. Many main activists had been arrested, silenced or pressured into self-exile.
Lai’s trial is Hong Kong’s first on costs of collusion with overseas forces. It additionally targets three firms associated to Apple Each day.
Lai smiled and waved at his supporters after he walked into the courtroom. Some members of the general public waved at Lai to indicate their help. Hong Kong’s Roman Catholic Cardinal Joseph Zen, a vocal democracy advocate within the metropolis, and representatives from overseas consulates had been among the many attendees.
Earlier than opening statements, Lai’s lawyer Robert Pang, dealing with the prosecution in courtroom, stated the sedition cost his consumer confronted didn’t comply with correct authorized procedures.
Pang argued the legislation required the prosecution of sedition costs to start inside six months after an alleged offense was dedicated and that prosecutors failed to do this in Lai’s case.
Three judges, permitted by the federal government, are overseeing the proceedings. The trial is predicted to final about 80 days.
Final 12 months, six former Apple Each day executives entered responsible pleas to collusion costs, admitting to the courtroom they conspired with Lai to name for sanctions or different hostile actions in opposition to Hong Kong or China. They had been convicted and await sentencing behind bars.
A few of the former executives, alongside two others who additionally pleaded responsible to collusion costs, had been anticipated to testify as witnesses for the prosecution of Lai.
Exterior the courtroom constructing, there was a heavy police presence. Dozens of residents lined as much as attend the listening to hours earlier than it began.
Jolly Chung, 29, was among the many first within the line, saying she would attempt to get in to look at the proceedings every time she might.
“As a Hong Konger, I wish to witness this, though I do know he’ll lose,” she stated.
Andy Sung, in his 40s, stated he got here to witness historical past. “Selecting to return here’s a small observe of some type of resistance,” he stated.
Professional-democracy activist Alexandra Wong, popularly generally known as “Grandma Wong,” was blocked from approaching the courtroom constructing by cops.
“Assist Jimmy Lai, help the Apple Each day, help the reality,” she chanted.
Lai’s trial was initially scheduled to begin in December 2022 however was postponed whereas the Hong Kong authorities appealed to Beijing to successfully block his try to rent a British protection lawyer. Metropolis authorities subsequently barred the lawyer, Timothy Owen, from representing Lai, saying it could possible pose nationwide safety dangers.
Final week, Lai’s son Sebastien met with Britain’s overseas secretary, David Cameron, to foyer for Britain’s assist in liberating his father, who holds British citizenship.
Cameron stated in a press release that the safety legislation is a “clear breach” of the Sino-British Joint Declaration and its continued use reveals China has damaged its worldwide commitments.
British and Chinese language authorities signed the settlement in 1984, stipulating that Hong Kong would retain a excessive diploma of autonomy and freedoms for 50 years.
Cameron stated he was significantly involved by the “politically motivated prosecution” of Lai. He urged Chinese language officers to repeal the safety legislation and launch Lai.
“Jimmy Lai has been focused in a transparent try and cease the peaceable train of his rights to freedom of expression and affiliation,” Cameron stated.
The U.S. condemned Lai’s prosecution and urged authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing to respect press freedom, U.S. State Division spokesperson Matthew Miller stated.
“We name on Hong Kong authorities to right away launch Jimmy Lai and all others imprisoned for defending their rights,” he stated.
The European Union stated in a press release that it deplored the fees in opposition to Lai and that his trial undermines confidence within the metropolis’s rule of legislation and is detrimental to the monetary hub’s attractiveness.
When requested for remark in regards to the Western condemnation of the safety legislation, Chinese language International Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin stated throughout his every day briefing: “The U.S. and U.Ok. statements making such irresponsible remarks on the continued judicial course of is in opposition to the spirit of the rule of legislation, worldwide legislation and the fundamental norms of worldwide relations.” Wang added that it ”was politically motivated and a 100% double commonplace. China firmly opposes this.”
He stated the Chinese language authorities helps town in upholding nationwide safety and that makes an attempt to smear the safety legislation “won’t ever succeed.” He additionally accused Lai of being “the foremost mastermind” within the metropolis’s “anti-China riots” and “an agent and pawn of the anti-China forces.”
Hong Kong, as soon as seen as a bastion of media freedom in Asia, ranked one hundred and fortieth out of 180 international locations and territories in Reporters With out Borders’ newest World Press Freedom Index. The group stated town had seen an “unprecedented setback” since 2020 when the safety legislation was imposed.
On-line information outlet Stand Information, recognized for its overtly crucial stance in opposition to the Hong Kong authorities, was pressured to close down underneath the crackdown, with its two former high editors being charged with sedition.
The governments of each Hong Kong and China have hailed the legislation for bringing again stability to town.
In Beijing, Chinese language President Xi Jinping met with Hong Kong chief Lee on Monday and affirmed the latter’s work over the previous 12 months. Xi stated Lee — who was in Beijing on his annual journey to report on what’s occurring within the territory— has led an administration to firmly safeguard nationwide safety and overhaul the system of district councils.
Learn Extra: Hong Kong’s ‘Patriots Solely’ Native Elections Marked by Arrests, Low Turnout
“(Efforts by your authorities) strengthened the development of Hong Kong shifting from chaos to order,” Xi stated in the course of the metropolis chief’s annual work journey to report Hong Kong’s newest conditions to Beijing.
Final week, Hong Kong held its first district council elections since new guidelines had been launched underneath Beijing’s steering, successfully shutting out all pro-democracy candidates. Voter turnout plunged to a report low for the reason that 1997 handover.