On duty: Police keeping watch in front of the media outside the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court in Hong Kong. — AFP
A court began hearing arguments about the sentencing of democracy advocate and onetime-media magnate Jimmy Lai and his co-defendants, whose convictions under a national security law could land them in prison for life.
Lai, 78, is the founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper and an outspoken critic of China’s ruling Communist Party.
He was arrested in 2020 under the law imposed by Beijing following massive anti-government protests that rocked Hong Kong the year before.
In December, he was found guilty of conspiring with others to collude with foreign forces and conspiracy to publish seditious articles.
His conviction raised concerns about the curtailing of press freedom in the former British colony, which returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
His case could also be a test for Beijing’s diplomatic ties. The verdict drew criticism from foreign governments, including the United States and Britain.
After the verdict, US President Donald Trump , who had raised Lai’s case with China, said he felt “so badly”.
Lai, alongside other co-defendants involved in the case, appeared in court for the four-day mitigation hearings.
The maximum penalty for their convictions is life imprisonment. Sentencing will come later.
The court heard arguments yesterday morning concerning two activists’ sentences.
Lawyers representing them suggested the starting points of their clients’ sentences should be 10 years and 10 to 15 years respectively, but they should receive reductions in part due to their assistance in the case.
Before sunrise, dozens of people had already lined up outside the court building to secure a seat in the public gallery.
Retiree Simon Ng, a former Apple Daily reader, said he arrived and waited in line since Friday morning, hoping to see Lai.
“I want to let him know that he’s not alone,” Ng said. “Many people support him.”
Lai was convicted of two counts of conspiracy to commit collusion with foreign forces to endanger national security, in addition to one count of conspiracy to distribute seditious publications.
Lai pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Three government-vetted judges wrote in their December verdict that Lai spearheaded the conspiracies and took issue with what they called his “constant invitation” to the United States to bring down the Chinese government with the excuse of helping Hong Kongers.
Lai’s lawyers admitted during the trial that he had called for foreign sanctions before the national security law took effect, but insisted he dropped these calls to comply with the law. They also argued on freedom of expression grounds.
But the judges said that Lai had never wavered in his intention to destabilise the ruling Chinese Communist Party.
After the enactment of the law, he intended to continue, though less explicitly, they said. They emphasised that Lai was not on trial for his political views.
Beijing has opposed what it called the smearing of Hong Kong’s judiciary “by certain countries,” saying the judicial authorities perform duties according to the law.
Six ex-Apple Daily senior executives and two activists involved in Lai’s case had entered guilty pleas, admitting that they had conspired with Lai and others to request foreign forces to impose sanctions, blockades or engage in other hostile activities.
The executives were publisher Cheung Kim-hung, associate publisher Chan Pui-man, editor-in-chief Ryan Law, executive editor-in-chief Lam Man-chung and editorial writers Fung Wai-kong and Yeung Ching-kee.
Some of them, alongside the two activists Andy Li and Chan Tsz-wah, served as prosecution witnesses during the 156-day trial. — AP
