The son of a jailed Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai Say he is optimistic trump card It can be convinced that China should release his father, as putting him in jail only strengthened Beijing’s reputation for dictatorship, free inculcated power.
Sebastien Lai told reporters and editors in the Washington Times on Wednesday that freeing his father, who has been struggling with vague allegations in Hong Kong prisons, would be a way for the Chinese Communist Party to show that it was “opening a new page.”
Doing so may show that Beijing is serious about attracting back Hong Kong businesses that remain vigilant about investment in city-states that once were autonomous after nearly a decade of aggressive CCP suppression of freedom of speech and radical CCP suppression on human rights.
“Hong Kong has always been known for its capabilities. It thrives because it has an effective rule of law, where people can invest happily in China.” Lai explain.
“By what they did to my father and other pro-democracy protesters, it was obvious that this was no longer there,” he said. “The reason why I saw the father’s case was hopeful because I think everyone benefits, including Hong Kong and China, this return to professionalism.”
Jimmy Lai77, is the founder of the now-defeated Apple Daily, a Hong Kong newspaper known for its external pro-democracy stance and criticism of the CCP. He was arrested in August 2020 for violating a controversial national security law that Beijing imposed on Hong Kong that year.
Hong Kong authorities then raided Apple Daily’s office and confiscated Mr. Lai’s assets.
Jimmy Lai accused of conspiring to conspire with foreign forces under the National Security Act and conspiring to publish an inflammatory publication under a separate law that promoted control of the Hong Kong government than the CCP.
Chinese critics say the law is ambiguous and abused to smash Hong Kong’s pro-democracy sentiment. gentlemen. Lai In the trial ending the debate on August 27, he was not guilty. He is waiting for the verdict.
gentlemen. trump card In October, a public commitment to discuss Mr., bringing international headlines to the presidential candidate. Lai’s Chinese President Xi Jinping was once elected for imprisonment. “One hundred percent, I’ll take him away.” trump card explain.
When Mr. Lai’s trial was delayed last month, he resumed his promise.
If convicted, sir Lai He has served for two years and he has served for two years. However, national security allegations are much more serious. It can be sentenced to life imprisonment.
The Hong Kong government pushed the National Security Act in 2020 after a massive protest against a separate bill in 2019, which would allow Beijing to arrest and extradite suspects in mainland China in Hong Kong.
Sebastien Lai said in a wide discussion with the Times on Wednesday that his father’s underlying health, including diabetes, had appointed the extended prison to the death penalty.
Jimmy Lai’s health further reduced his nearly five years of solitary confinement.
“Under a law that should not exist, it should not exist, and it should not exist,” Caoilfhionn Gallagher, an international consultant at the Lai Family, said in a discussion on Wednesday.
“So we are heading towards a position where we were convicted, and at the time we were facing a sentence of at least 10 years,” Ms. Gallagher said. “He could be sentenced to life imprisonment, but given his age and health, anything could be essentially a death penalty.”
Concerns about Jimmy Lai’s health delayed the trial, which lasted nearly 160 days.
Sebastien Lai, like his father, visited Washington this week to promote his father’s release.
On Wednesday, he expressed his deep gratitude for any efforts. trump card He once caused his father to leave Hong Kong.
“I’ve been doing this for a few years and I’ve been very grateful and amazed at all the support we have in the United States,” he said. “My father represents values and willingness to stay in Hong Kong, sacrifice himself to defend his employees, and his principles do speak to Americans.”
He also praised Mr. trump card Say it out loud and swear to let your father free.
“The president doesn’t have to say that; my father is a British citizen,” he said. “I think the fact that he did this means how much to him and the others in the cabinet.”
Since returning to the White House in January, Mr. trump card The release of international prisoners has been made the focus. In July, the Trump administration helped ensure the release of Keith Siegel, a U.S. citizen, who was detained by Hamas for nearly 16 months after October 7, 2023 in a terrorist attack. In February, six U.S. citizens were released from Venezuela custody.
In the UK, MPs call on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to push Jimmy Lai’s release. They said in a joint letter from the unanimous prime minister on the week that this should be a nonpartisan issue.
The letter reads: “The historical relationship between Britain and Hong Kong makes you uniquely show strong leadership, which is not only a devastating cause by a family, but also a symbol of the wider erosion of Hong Kong’s freedom.”
