Who is Jimmy Lai, Hong Kong’s jailed media tycoon?
Summary
Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai's national security trial has finished after nearly two years. Lai is facing charges under a law that Beijing imposed, and the trial is watched globally as it may affect views on Hong Kong's freedoms. A verdict date will be set later.Key Facts
- Jimmy Lai, 77, is a well-known Hong Kong businessman who started with little and built a large media business.
- He is recognized for criticizing China's ruling Communist Party and supporting Hong Kong's democracy movement.
- Lai was arrested in 2020 after Beijing enacted a law criminalizing actions such as secession and collusion with foreign forces.
- He faces charges of conspiring with foreign forces and sedition; if guilty, he could get life imprisonment.
- Lai has pleaded not guilty and claims the charges are politically motivated.
- United Nations observers and Western governments have expressed concerns about the fairness of the trial.
- The Hong Kong government maintains the trial follows legal procedures.
- His choice of a lawyer was blocked by Beijing on national security grounds.
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