Before Jimmy Lai, a prominent critic of China and media mogul, goes on trial for allegedly collaborating with foreign powers, including the US, Britain demanded that Hong Kong free him.
On Sunday, British Foreign Minister David Cameron, who took office in November, took a more assertive stand by explicitly demanding the release of British national Lai, who could spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Foreign envoys and others have stated that Lai’s eagerly anticipated national security trial, which begins in Hong Kong on Monday, is a crucial litmus test for the city’s judicial independence and liberties under the expansive national security law that China imposed in 2020.
Lai, 76, one of the most well-known Hong Kong critics of China’s Communist Party leadership and the creator of the now-closed pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, has entered not guilty pleas to complete charges in the upcoming trial.
Cameron has met with his son Sebastien Lai to discuss the case; in the past, he has criticised Britain for being “incredibly weak” in defending his father.
“As a prominent and outspoken journalist and publisher, Jimmy Lai has been targeted in a clear attempt to stop the peaceful exercise of his rights to freedom of expression and association. I call on the Hong Kong authorities to end their prosecution and release Jimmy Lai,” Cameron stated in a statement.
The National Security Law in Hong Kong, according to Cameron, is a “clear breach” of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, which was signed more than 25 years ago when Hong Kong was returned from British to Chinese rule. The agreement guaranteed a high degree of autonomy, including freedom of speech, under the “one country, two systems” formula.
“(The national security law) has damaged Hong Kong, with rights and freedoms significantly eroded. I urge the Chinese authorities to repeal the National Security Law and end the prosecution of all individuals charged under it,” he added.
China has previously accused Britain of acting with a colonial mindset in response to similar criticism.
