NEWS: :: Jimmy Lai’s supporters brave the rain as his trial resumes
:: November 20, 2024
:: Hong Kong
“Mr. Lai represents the spirit of Hong Kong. After he came to Hong Kong, he greatly admired the state of democracy and freedom here. As a Hongkonger from the same generation as him, I also feel his desire for freedom. So I think, no matter the rain, no matter how hard it is for me, I must come out to support Mr. Lai , because he is indeed our example even though he is rich, he is righteous.
“So now there is no press freedom. You see Mr. Lai was arrested for no reason, so today I am out of my mind.”
Lai has been accused of conspiring with foreign forces and publishing articles that encourage treason, and both have denied the charges.
His testimony comes a day after Hong Kong jailed 45 pro-democracy activists for up to 10 years in a national security case.
Lai was held in custody for more than 1,400 days before his trial began last December. He is already serving a five-year, nine-month prison sentence for fraud over the leasing dispute for his pro-democracy newspaper, Apple Daily.