Britain has referred to as on China to finish its prosecution of media tycoon and pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai whose long-awaited nationwide safety trial has began in Hong Kong.
The landmark trial for the main China critic opened amid tight safety, with 76-year-old Lai battling costs that he colluded with international forces.
Foreign Secretary David Cameron issued a press release calling for his launch: “I am gravely concerned that anyone is facing prosecution under the National Security Law, and particularly concerned at the politically motivated prosecution of British national Jimmy Lai.
“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 urge the Chinese authorities to repeal the National Security Law and finish the prosecution of all people charged beneath it.
“I call on the Hong Kong authorities to end their prosecution and release Jimmy Lai.”
Queues shaped outdoors the West Kowloon Law Court constructing the evening earlier than the carefully anticipated trial, with scores of police additionally on the scene.
Hong Kong’s safety chief warned final week any makes an attempt to disrupt proceedings wouldn’t be tolerated.
Lai, the founding father of now-closed pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily and some of the distinguished Hong Kong critics of the Chinese Communist Party, has confronted a lot litigation since a wave of pro-democracy protests in 2019.
He appeared calm and thinner than in earlier courtroom appearances as proceedings began, smiling and waving to the packed courtroom.
Lai, flanked by 4 guards, was seen studying courtroom paperwork as his lead lawyer, Robert Pang, addressed the three judges in wigs and pink robes.
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“When fundamental rights are engaged, any protection must be interpreted generously in favour of Mr Lai and narrowly
for the prosecution,” Mr Pang informed the courtroom.
Lai has pleaded not responsible to all costs.
Lai was dropped at the courtroom constructing in a jail van in a police convoy.
A safety cordon was arrange across the courtroom constructing, with uniformed, riot and plainclothes police, armoured autos and sniffer canine on web site.
Some supporters of Lai, who faces doable life imprisonment, lined up in a single day within the winter chill to safe a
spot within the courtroom.
“Lai has been detained in prison for almost three years now. I want to witness this,” mentioned Jolly Chung, a 29-year-old. “If he can’t come out and has to die in prison, I hope he can be proud of himself, and many Hong Kongers want to say thank you to him.”
Western democracies, together with the US, Britain and the European Union, are watching carefully, with the trial looming as a recent diplomatic flashpoint and a key check for Hong Kong’s judicial independence and freedoms beneath the sweeping nationwide safety regulation imposed by China in 2020.
Lai, who China’s international ministry lately referred to as a “notorious anti-China element”, has been behind bars now for over 1,000 days.
Source: information.sky.com”