A landmark national security trial for leading China critic Jimmy Lai opened in Hong Kong on Dec 18 amid tight security, with the pro-democracy activist battling charges that he colluded with foreign forces, including the United States.
Queues formed outside the West Kowloon Law Courts Building on the night before the much-anticipated trial, with scores of police deployed.
Hong Kong’s security chief warned last week that any attempts to disrupt proceedings would not be tolerated.
Lai, the founder of now-shuttered pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily and one of the most prominent Hong Kong critics of China’s Communist Party leadership, has faced a salvo of litigation since a wave of pro-democracy protests in 2019.
The 76-year-old appeared calm and thinner than in previous court appearances as proceedings started, smiling and waving to the packed court.
Lai, flanked by four guards, was seen reading court documents as his lead lawyer, Robert Pang, addressed the three judges in wigs and red robes.
“When fundamental rights are engaged, any protection must be interpreted generously in favour of Mr Lai and narrowly for the prosecution,” Mr Pang told the court.
Lai has pleaded not guilty to all charges.He was taken to the court building in a navy-blue prison van in a police convoy.
A security cordon was set up around the court building perimeter, with uniformed, riot and plain-clothes police officers, armoured vehicles and sniffer dogs on site.
Some supporters of Lai, who faces possible life imprisonment, lined up overnight in the winter chill to secure a spot in the courtroom.
“Lai has been detained in prison for almost three years now. I want to witness this,” said 29-year-old supporter Jolly Chung.
“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, including the United States, Britain and the European Union, have been watching closely as the trial loomed. It is a fresh diplomatic flashpoint and a key test for Hong Kong’s judicial independence and freedoms under the sweeping national security law imposed by China in 2020.
Britain on Dec 17 toughened its stance towards the plight of Lai – a British citizen – by explicitly calling on the authorities to release him.
Lai, whom China’s Foreign Ministry recently called a “notorious anti-China element”, has been behind bars for more than 1,000 days.
He faces several charges under the law, including collusion with foreign forces – a count that involves calling for sanctions against Hong Kong and Chinese officials. (StraitsTimes)