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Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai arrested over alleged foreign collusion Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai arrested over alleged foreign collusion
(32 minutes later)
Leading pro-democracy figure detained under controversial new national security lawLeading pro-democracy figure detained under controversial new national security law
Hong Kong media tycoon and leading pro-democracy figure, Jimmy Lai, has been arrested for alleged foreign collusion.Hong Kong media tycoon and leading pro-democracy figure, Jimmy Lai, has been arrested for alleged foreign collusion.
The 71-year-old Lai, who was already facing several other charges over the organisation and promotion of protests last year, was detained on Monday morning under the new national security laws, said Mark Simon, Lai’s top aide, and his news outlet, Apple Daily. The 71-year-old founder of news outlet Apple Daily was detained on Monday morning under the new national security laws. Lai was already facing several other charges over the organisation and promotion of protests last year.
Chinese state media, CCTV later said seven people including Lai were arrested by the newly established Hong Kong national security office on suspicion of “colluding with foreign forces and violating the Hong Kong national security law”. The People’s Daily also said he had been charged with fraud. Hong Kong police confirmed seven people aged 39 to 72 had been arrested on suspicion of collusion with foreign forces against national security, and conspiracy to commit fraud. “The police operation is still ongoing and does not rule out more arrests,” the fore said.
Apple Daily reported Lai’s son was also arrested. The Guardian has sought confirmation from the Hong Kong police force. Chinese state media, CCTV said the seven people including Lai were arrested by the newly established Hong Kong national security office and pro-Beijing Hong Kong title, Oriental Daily, said there was also a warrant issued for Mark Simon, Lai’s top aide.
Lai’s company, Next Media, is the publisher of Apple Daily, Hong Kong’s largest pro-democracy daily. Activist Eddie Chu-hoi Dick accused the Chinese Communist Party of wanting to close the paper, and said Lai’s arrest was “the first step of [a] HK media blackout”. Apple Daily reported Lai’s son was also arrested.
The arrest comes after the US enacted sanctions against senior Hong Kong officials, including the chief executive, Carrie Lam, and comes amid deepening concern over Hong Kong’s democratic decline. The arrests come after the US enacted sanctions against senior Hong Kong officials, including the chief executive, Carrie Lam, and comes amid deepening concern over Hong Kong’s democratic decline.
Last week elections scheduled for September were delayed for a year, ostensibly due to the pandemic, and the pro-democracy candidates were disqualified.Last week elections scheduled for September were delayed for a year, ostensibly due to the pandemic, and the pro-democracy candidates were disqualified.
On Sunday Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand urged Hong Kong to hold elections as soon as possible.On Sunday Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand urged Hong Kong to hold elections as soon as possible.
Britain’s foreign minister Dominic Raab said in the joint statement from the “five eyes” countries were gravely concerned about the disqualification of candidates in Hong Kong.Britain’s foreign minister Dominic Raab said in the joint statement from the “five eyes” countries were gravely concerned about the disqualification of candidates in Hong Kong.
“We call on the Hong Kong government to reinstate the eligibility of disqualified candidates,” the statement said. “We urge the Hong Kong government to hold the elections as soon as possible.”“We call on the Hong Kong government to reinstate the eligibility of disqualified candidates,” the statement said. “We urge the Hong Kong government to hold the elections as soon as possible.”
It said the security law was “eroding the Hong Kong people’s fundamental rights and liberties”.It said the security law was “eroding the Hong Kong people’s fundamental rights and liberties”.
If Lai is charged with foreign collusion offences, he faces potential sentences of three to 10 years in prison, or up to life for an offence “of a grave nature”.If Lai is charged with foreign collusion offences, he faces potential sentences of three to 10 years in prison, or up to life for an offence “of a grave nature”.
“The move against Lai may be linked to anger at American actions, but they are also part of ongoing trend, blow after blow against people and institutions in Hong Kong linked to its vibrant civil society,” said Jeffrey Wasserstrom, a China academic at the University of California, and author of Hong Kong on the Brink. Lai’s company, Next Media, is the publisher of Apple Daily, Hong Kong’s largest pro-democracy daily. Activist Eddie Chu-hoi Dick accused the Chinese Communist Party of wanting to close the paper, and said Lai’s arrest was “the first step of [a] HK media blackout”.
Jeffrey Wasserstrom, a China academic at the University of California, and author of Hong Kong on the Brink, said the move could be linked to anger over the US sanctions, “but they are also part of ongoing trend, blow after blow against people and institutions in Hong Kong linked to its vibrant civil society.”
He said the current circumstances were potentially more severe than Lai’s previous arrests which occurred prior to the implementation national security law, when there was “still a separation of powers” in Hong Kong.He said the current circumstances were potentially more severe than Lai’s previous arrests which occurred prior to the implementation national security law, when there was “still a separation of powers” in Hong Kong.
“There is the risk, under this frightening new normal, that he could be taken to the mainland to be tried,” he said. “Differences between political life and civil society in Hong Kong and mainland cities still remain, but events like these arrests show that what was once a chasm is not quickly, very quickly, becoming a narrow gap.”“There is the risk, under this frightening new normal, that he could be taken to the mainland to be tried,” he said. “Differences between political life and civil society in Hong Kong and mainland cities still remain, but events like these arrests show that what was once a chasm is not quickly, very quickly, becoming a narrow gap.”
The national security laws were imposed by Beijing in late June.The national security laws were imposed by Beijing in late June.
Foreign collusion crimes include requesting or conspiring with a foreign country, institution, organisation or individual – or receiving instruction or funding from them – to disrupt government legislation, undermine an election, or impose sanctions against Hong Kong or mainland China. “Provoking by unlawful means hatred among Hong Kong residents towards the government of Hong Kong or mainland China” is also outlawed.Foreign collusion crimes include requesting or conspiring with a foreign country, institution, organisation or individual – or receiving instruction or funding from them – to disrupt government legislation, undermine an election, or impose sanctions against Hong Kong or mainland China. “Provoking by unlawful means hatred among Hong Kong residents towards the government of Hong Kong or mainland China” is also outlawed.
Lai was also among 25 people charged on Friday over attending a Tiananmen Square massacre vigil on 4 June.Lai was also among 25 people charged on Friday over attending a Tiananmen Square massacre vigil on 4 June.
A report in hawkish Chinese state media mouthpiece The Global Times, suggested Lai was unlikely to receive bail and would face “heavy penalties”.