Former Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai has begun testifying in his national security trial, which is being closely watched as a test of press freedom and judicial independence in the Chinese territory. Lai, 76, faces charges of colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security and issuing seditious publications, with a possible sentence of life in prison if convicted under Beijing’s national security law. Critics argue that civil liberties promised to Hong Kong for 50 years after its return to Chinese rule in 1997 have eroded under the guise of national security.
Authorities in Hong Kong have used the national security law to prosecute many pro-democracy activists, leading to the sentencing of 45 advocates on Tuesday, while others have been forced into exile or silenced. The government claims the law has restored stability following the 2019 protests, but Lai’s case and others have sparked international concern.
Prosecutors allege that Lai sought support from the United States in sanctioning Chinese and Hong Kong leaders during meetings with U.S. officials in 2019. Lai’s trial has drawn widespread attention, with calls for his release from the American and British governments, as well as from independent human rights experts. Lai’s son has described his treatment in prison as inhumane, while rights groups such as the Committee to Protect Journalists have criticized the trial as a “show trial.” Despite government assertions of independence, the handling of national security cases in Hong Kong continues to raise concerns about the erosion of civil rights and freedom of the press in the territory.
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