Hong Kong Watch: Jimmy Lai National Security Charge 'An Assault on Press Freedom'

STATEMENT ON JIMMY LAI’S NATIONAL SECURITY CHARGE

On 11 December 2020, Jimmy Lai, the owner of Apple Daily Hong Kong, was charged under the National Security Law with 'collusion with foreign political forces.'

The charge, which carries up to life imprisonment, is a grave miscarriage of justice and an assault on press freedom. It proves that the Hong Kong Government has no intention of continuing to uphold fundamental rights and freedoms, but is instead set on silencing all dissent.

Jimmy Lai is a British citizen. We call on the UK Government to immediately take action to advocate on his behalf, and to consider taking proportionate steps - including sanctions - in response.