UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer says Hong Kong businessman Jimmy Lai’s release from prison is a priority for his government. He backed up that stance by raising the matter with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Rio de Janeiro on Monday. US President-elect Donald Trump, meanwhile, has pledged “100%” to secure the freedom of the pro-democracy campaigner. Whatever else happens at Lai’s trial this week, there’s little danger of it flying under the world’s radar.
That had seemed a possibility not so long ago, given the approach of earlier British governments. Previous prime ministers (there have been four since Lai was imprisoned at the end of 2020) appeared reluctant even to say his name or acknowledge the 77-year-old as a British citizen, to the frustration of his supporters. Lai’s trial, on charges of colluding with foreign forces, resumes Wednesday — a day after a Hong Kong court sentenced 45 pro-democracy activists to terms as long as 10 years for subversion, related to their participation in a peaceful primary election in 2020.
