The British foreign secretary, David Cameron, has urged for the freedom of Jimmy Lai, who is a British citizen and the publisher of a pro-democracy newspaper. Lai is currently facing a trial in Hong Kong that is believed to be politically motivated.
The ex-prime minister made a strong statement denouncing the accusations against Lai, who is 76 years old and potentially faces life imprisonment if found guilty under China’s national security law implemented after the 2019 demonstrations for democracy.
Lai is accused of collaborating with external forces to jeopardize the safety of the nation and plotting with others to release inflammatory content. The court case is being closely monitored globally due to worries about the increasing control of Beijing over Hong Kong, a previous British territory.
Cameron stated that the national security law in Hong Kong violates the Sino-British joint declaration. He believes that China’s refusal to repeal or abide by this law is proof of their disregard for international obligations.
The law has caused harm to Hong Kong, resulting in a significant erosion of rights and freedoms. The arrests made under this law have effectively silenced voices of opposition.
I am deeply troubled by the fact that anyone is being charged with a crime under the national security law, and I am especially concerned about the politically driven prosecution of Jimmy Lai, who is a British citizen.
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Jimmy Lai, a well-known journalist and publisher, has been singled out in an obvious effort to prevent him from peacefully exercising his rights to freely express himself and associate with others.
I implore the Chinese government to revoke the national security law and cease the prosecution of any individuals who have been charged under it.
I urge the Hong Kong authorities to stop their legal action and free Jimmy Lai.
Cameron made the pleas after Lai’s son Sebastien met the foreign secretary last week, saying he had “left the meeting feeling hopeful that the UK will shortly add its voice to calls for my dad’s immediate and unconditional release”.
Lai founded Hong Kong’s now defunct Apple Daily newspaper but was arrested in 2020 during a crackdown on the city’s pro-democracy movement. His case has become a key issue, especially among Tory backbenchers pushing for a harder UK government line on China.
Cameron’s new role raised concerns about his willingness to take a firm stance against Beijing, as there has been a positive relationship between China and the Western world during his time as Prime Minister.
After taking on the role of foreign secretary, he admitted that China’s “wolf warrior” diplomacy has become increasingly aggressive and assertive compared to when he was in No 10.
Source: theguardian.com
