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 tycoon Jimmy Lai, 78, was criticized by the Government as politically motivated. Lai, a pro-democracy activist and founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, has been a vocal critic of the Chinese government.
Arrested in 2020 under the national security law introduced after anti-government protests, Lai pleaded not guilty to all charges. The verdict by the Hong Kong court was condemned by UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, who denounced the persecution of Lai for exercising his right to freedom of expression. Cooper called for the immediate release of Lai and the repeal of the national security law.
Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel labeled Lai’s case a “political show trial” and urged Keir Starmer to intervene and demand Lai’s release from custody. Patel criticized the Chinese Communist Party’s authoritarian regime for violating freedoms guaranteed under the Sino-British Joint Declaration. She called for stronger opposition from the British Government against the suppression of freedom and human rights in Hong Kong.