A judge has argued that an interpretation of Hong Kong’s national security law by Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s defence team may not reflect Beijing’s true intentions, after the former media boss’ lawyers argued that the legislation did not penalise calls for sanctions against select Chinese officials. Lai’s lawyers on Monday argued that a strict literal approach…
A Beijing official overseeing Hong Kong’s national security has dismissed calls from foreign groups to pardon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, questioning the need to do so as the former media boss is not “a certain president’s son”. Sun Qingye, deputy director of Beijing’s Office for Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong, also warned on Friday against…
A Beijing official overseeing Hong Kong’s national security has dismissed calls from foreign groups to pardon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, questioning the need to do so as the former media boss is not “a certain president’s son”. Sun Qingye, deputy director of Beijing’s Office for Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong, also warned on Friday against…
Former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has maintained he had reasonable grounds to predict the demise of Hong Kong’s rule of law and status as an international financial hub under the national security legislation, while rejecting prosecutors’ claims he stirred up fear among residents over Beijing’s tightened grip on the city. The founder of the…
Former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has maintained he had reasonable grounds to predict Hong Kong would lose its rule of law and status as an international financial hub under the national security legislation, while rejecting prosecutors’ claims he stirred up fear among residents over Beijing’s tightened grip on the city. The founder of the…
Ex-media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying denied on Monday that he had tried to spread fear by suggesting Beijing would take over Hong Kong if an extradition bill was passed in 2019 but conceded he went too far with claims central authorities could destroy the “one country, two systems” governing principle. Prosecutors grilled Lai on Monday…
Ex-media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying denied on Monday that he had tried to spread fear by suggesting Beijing would take over Hong Kong if an extradition bill was passed in 2019 but conceded he went too far with claims central authorities could destroy the “one country, two systems” governing principle. Prosecutors grilled Lai on Monday…
Former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying returns to the witness box in Hong Kong on Tuesday to explain his communications with associates and friends after the Beijing-imposed national security law came into effect on June 30, 2020, as his testimony enters its fourth week. The 77-year-old has pleaded not guilty to two charges of conspiring…
Former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying returns to West Kowloon Court in Hong Kong on Monday to testify for a fourth week in his high-profile trial, answering questions over his state of mind after the enactment of the Beijing-decreed national security law on June 30, 2020. The 77-year-old has spent 12 days in the witness…
Former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has conceded he was “too optimistic” to have once believed in Hong Kong’s future as a financial hub under the national security law, while dismissing “presumptuous” allegations that he foresaw his arrest would trigger foreign intervention. Lai, 77, also said on Thursday he did not believe the central and…