A Hong Kong court has convicted a British national of conspiracy and sedition charges under the territory’s national security law imposed by China. The prosecution of Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai, 78, was denounced by the Government as politically motivated. Lai, a pro-democracy activist and founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper in Hong Kong, has long been a vocal critic of the Chinese government.
Arrested in 2020 under the national security law following anti-government protests, Lai has maintained his innocence against the charges brought upon him. The UK’s Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, criticized the court’s verdict, condemning what she labeled as a politically driven persecution of Lai. Cooper emphasized the need for Lai’s immediate release, proper medical care, and access to independent medical professionals.
Dame Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, described Lai’s trial as a “political show trial” and called for his immediate release from custody. She urged Keir Starmer to intervene directly with President Xi Jinping to secure Lai’s release and reunite him with his family in Britain. Patel also criticized the imposition of the national security law in Hong Kong, stating that it infringes on the freedoms guaranteed under the Sino-British Joint Declaration. She expressed disappointment in the British government’s response to the situation in Hong Kong, urging stronger opposition to the suppression of freedom and human rights in the region.