Britain condemns ‘politically motivated’ Hong Kong conviction of Jimmy Lai

The Government has condemned the “politically motivated prosecution” of a Hong Kong media tycoon and British national.

Jimmy Lai, 78, has been found guilty by a Hong Kong court of conspiracy and sedition charges under the territory’s Beijing-imposed national security law.

Mr Lai, a pro-democracy activist who founded the now-defunct Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily, has been a persistent critic of the Chinese government.

He was arrested in 2020 under the national security law, which was brought in after anti-government protests the previous year.

Mr Lai, who has spent much of the time since in solitary confinement, pleaded not guilty to all the charges brought against him.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper criticised the verdict by the Hong Kong court.

She said: “The UK condemns the politically motivated prosecution of Jimmy Lai that has resulted in today’s guilty verdict.

“Jimmy Lai has been targeted by the Chinese and Hong Kong governments for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression.

“Beijing’s national security law was imposed on Hong Kong to silence China’s critics.

“The UK has repeatedly called for the national security law to be repealed and for an end to the prosecution of all individuals charged under it.

“We continue to call for Mr Lai’s immediate release, for all necessary treatment and for full access to independent medical professionals.”

Dame Priti Patel, shadow foreign secretary, described Mr Lai’s case as a “political show trial” which was “an outrage to democracy, personal freedom and liberty”.

She added: “His degrading treatment and imprisonment at the hands of the Chinese Communist Party’s authoritarian regime has been appalling.”

Dame Priti urged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to “directly raise Jimmy’s case with President Xi (Jinping) and demand Jimmy’s immediate release from custody so his ordeal can end, he can be returned to Britain and be reunited with his family”.

A cross-party group of MPs criticised the Government for not having taken stronger action ahead of Mr Lai’s conviction.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Arbitrary Detention and Hostage Affairs said: “The conviction represents a failing by the UK Government which has not unequivocally demanded his release.

“While other countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia have secured the release of their nationals from arbitrary detention in China and Hong Kong, the UK has failed to do so despite the unique relationship between the UK and Hong Kong enshrined in international obligations in the Basic Law.

“If the UK had taken faster, firmer and more fervent action to secure his release Jimmy Lai could be spending Christmas with his family where he belongs, rather than arbitrarily detained in Hong Kong.”