HONG KONG – Jimmy Lai, a prominent pro-democracy tycoon in Hong Kong, entered a not guilty plea on Tuesday, contesting all charges in a high-profile national security trial that holds the potential for a life sentence for the leading critic of the Chinese Communist Party in the city.
The 76-year-old Lai is accused of two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces, which involves advocating for sanctions against Hong Kong and Chinese officials, under a national security law imposed by China. Additionally, Lai, the founder of the now-closed pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, faces a charge of conspiracy to publish seditious publications under a colonial-era sedition law.
The trial has garnered significant international attention, with Western democracies, including the United States, Britain, and the European Union closely monitoring the proceedings. The trial serves as a diplomatic flashpoint and a crucial test for Hong Kong’s judicial independence and freedoms, particularly under the broad national security law implemented by China in 2020.
Both the U.S. and Britain have called for Lai’s immediate release, asserting that the trial is politically motivated. However, Hong Kong authorities argue that Lai will receive a fair trial, emphasizing that the national security law has brought stability to the city following the mass protests in 2019.