Source: GPT News Desk
After spending more than three years in prison, the long-anticipated national security trial for pro-democracy activist and media mogul Jimmy Lai commenced on Monday in Hong Kong amidst heightened security measures. This trial, the most prominent since the imposition of Beijing’s contentious national security law in 2020, charges Lai with “colluding with foreign forces” to undertake hostile activities and conspiracy to publish seditious material under a pre-existing British colonial-era law.
The 76-year-old Lai, if found guilty, could potentially face a life sentence. Notably, Hong Kong’s security chief, Chris Tang, previously highlighted a 100% conviction rate under the national security law earlier this year. The case underscores the significance of the national security law in Hong Kong, sparking debates over its implications for freedom of expression and political dissent. The proceedings are closely watched by both local and international observers as they unfold in the context of evolving dynamics between Hong Kong and mainland China.
