Hong Kong democrat Jimmy Lai given heart monitor for final stretch of marathon trial

 

Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai has entered the final phase of his marathon trial under the city’s controversial national security laws. Lai, 77, founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, was fitted with a heart monitor and given medication at the start of closing submissions, after health concerns forced a delay last week. He faces two charges of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one charge of conspiring to publish seditious material, charges to which he has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors claim Lai acted as a “helmsman” of Apple Daily, using the newspaper as a platform to encourage foreign governments to take hostile actions against China, including trade sanctions. They also argued that he directly urged U.S. officials, including then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in 2019, to impose sanctions against Chinese and Hong Kong leaders. The authorities in Hong Kong maintain that Lai has received adequate medical care during his nearly 1,700 days in solitary confinement. Judges overseeing the trial noted medical reports showing Lai is fit to continue, though extra breaks will be allowed if necessary. The case highlights the reach of China’s national security law and the future of dissent in Hong Kong.

The treatment of Jimmy Lai has sparked international concern, with human rights groups and Western governments calling for his release. Australia’s foreign ministry issued a statement saying it was deeply concerned by Hong Kong’s use of national security laws to suppress civil society and prosecute pro-democracy figures. The United States has also been outspoken, with President Donald Trump recently saying in an interview that he would “do everything I can to save him.” Lai, who also holds British citizenship, has become one of the most high-profile targets of Beijing’s crackdown on political dissent. Lai’s son and supporters worry about his deteriorating health, citing long-term solitary confinement and advanced age. Rights advocates say his trial represents a broader pattern of eroding freedoms since the 2019 protests, which led to Beijing’s imposition of the sweeping security law. Hong Kong and Chinese officials insist the case is being handled fairly and that Lai’s medical needs are being met in custody. For critics, however, his trial is symbolic of the city’s transformation from a hub of free expression into one where pro-democracy voices face prosecution. With final submissions underway, Lai’s future now rests with a panel of national security judges.

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