"Verdict in Lai's national security trial is being closely watched as a test of Hong Kong's rule of law. Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai's national security trial has wrapped up after nearly two years of proceedings. The case against Lai, 77, has drawn the attention of world leaders and global rights groups, with observers closely watching the outcome as a barometer of the financial hub's rule of law and freedoms."
"From Beijing's perspective, Jimmy Lai stands out as he is the highest profile and [most] persistent tycoon who used his fortune to support the democracy movement in Hong Kong, and thus challenges the authority of the CCP, Tsang told Al Jazeera. To them, this makes Lai a traitor who must be severely punished, Tsang said, adding that the Chinese authorities believe Lai must be reprimanded in a high-profile way to scare others from following the same path."
The national security trial of Jimmy Lai concluded closing arguments after nearly two years of proceedings. The case has attracted attention from world leaders and global rights groups and is regarded as a barometer of Hong Kong's rule of law and freedoms. Closing arguments finished on Thursday after repeated delays caused by bad weather and concerns over Lai's health, with a verdict date to be set later. Lai built a business empire after fleeing China for British Hong Kong in the 1950s, including the pro-democracy tabloid Apple Daily, and openly supported the city's democracy movement. Lai was arrested in August 2020 shortly after Beijing imposed a national security law; his activism positioned him as a prominent target for authorities who view his actions as challenging CCP authority.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]