Catholic publisher Jimmy Lai—a pro-democracy advocate and fierce critic of the Chinese Communist Party—pleaded not guilty in Hong Kong on Tuesday, January 2nd to two charges of conspiracy under Beijing’s national security law.
The trial—widely labeled a ‘sham’—kicked off last December. If convicted, Lai, who has already been incarcerated since December 2022 for fraud, could face a life sentence.
Prosecutors claim that Lai had both conspired to produce seditious publications and colluded with foreign powers, including calling for sanctions against Hong Kong and Chinese officials.
Prosecutor Anthony Chau told the three high court judges that Lai was “a radical figure” who conspired with others to bring “hatred and stir up opposition” against the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities.
Demonstrating a flair for the dramatic, Chau showed a picture of Lai alongside images of former U.S. President Donald Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence, and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Pictures of other figures regarded as highly provocative by Beijing—including former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, a known advocate of Taiwan’s continued independence from China—were also displayed. In addition, the prosecutor played several videos of Lai calling for sanctions against China.
News coverage and comment in Lai’s newspaper Apple Daily prompted its government-enforced closure. Hong Kong is a so-called ‘special administrative region’—giving it in theory the highest degree of autonomy from China’s central government—but it is steadily being drawn into Beijing’s orbit. Its conflict with Lai—in the context of a wider crackdown on civil liberties—has drawn Beijing’s attention to the case.
Earlier this year, a court in Hong Kong cleared the 76-year-old British citizen of the crime of organizing a 2019 pro-democracy demonstration, but upheld his conviction for participating. Since then, he has been subjected to a relentless string of proceedings against him (a.k.a. ‘lawfare’, a practice also widespread in Western ‘liberal democracies’).
The accusations leveled against Lai have not convinced sympathizers overseas, as both Washington and London continue to call for his immediate release, saying his trial is politically motivated.
Despite condemnation by these governments and others, prospects for Lai look unfavorable. Experts believe that his chances of having the charges dropped or, alternatively, of being deported to the UK, are slim.
It is clear that the Chinese authorities will brook no opposition or challenge to their power and are keen to make an example of Lai.
While Hong Kong hoped for at least half a century of self-governance following the British handover in 1997, its essential freedoms now look set to be all but snuffed out.
