Biweekly political prisoner trial developments in Hong Kong (9 December - 20 December)

Development 1: Trial of British citizen Jimmy Lai continues 

The trial of British citizen Jimmy Lai resumed on 20 November 2024.

This week during his testimony, Mr Lai defended his comments in a “Live Chat with Jimmy Lai” from 2020, describing how China’s relations with the West grew increasingly tense after Xi Jinping rose to power and stating that this could only be resolved if Xi steps down. Denying that this statement incited hatred against Xi, Mr Lai said, “I was just stating the fact that Xi Jinping doesn’t understand world affairs, he thinks that to deal with the world is the same as to deal with the people in China.” Mr Lai also stated that the Hong Kong police began to “twist the facts” as they arrested innocent individuals following the enactment of the Beijing-imposed National Security Law in June 2020.

Last week, Mr Lai testified that he did not promote hostility towards China in his X (formerly Twitter) post in which he quoted a 2020 speech made by former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, although he said that retweeting an activist’s call for the UK to sanction Hong Kong officials was a “mistake”. Mr Lai also added that he was “surprised” Hong Kong’s local electoral officers were not included on the list of Hong Kong government officials sanctioned by the US in July 2020.

Jimmy Lai is a British citizen who founded Apple Daily, formerly the largest pro-democracy newspaper in Hong Kong. Mr Lai was also an influential pro-democracy organiser during the 2019 Hong Kong pro-democracy movement. Mr Lai faces three charges under the Hong Kong National Security Law which carries a maximum punishment of life in prison, and one charge for “conspiracy to publish seditious publications” under the colonial-era sedition law. Mr Lai’s national security trial was initially expected to be 80 days long, but has lasted for over 100 days already.

Development 2: Fourteen of ‘Hong Kong 47’ challenge sentences

Following the sentencing of 45 of the ‘Hong Kong 47’ on 19 November 2024, when former pro-democracy legislators and aspiring legislators received jail sentences ranging from 4 years, 2 months to 10 years for peacefully organising and participating in democratic primary elections for the Hong Kong Legislative Council in July 2020, multiple defendants have appealed their convictions and sentences. 

This week, six defendants submitted appeals to challenge their sentences. This includes activist Wong Ji-Yuet, activist ‘Long Hair’ Leung Kwok-hung, former radio presenter Tam Tak-chi, former chair of People Power Raymond Chan, former Civic Party district councillor Tat Cheng, and vice-chair of the Hong Kong Association for Democracy and People’s Livelihood (ADPL) Kalvin Ho.

Appeals were previously submitted by Gordon Ng, a political novice and an Australian national, Lam Cheuk-ting, a former legislator and member of the Democratic Party, Michael Pang, a young entrepreneur and activist, Owen Chow, an activist, Helena Wong, a former lawmaker, Clarisse Yeung, a former district councillor, Winnie Yu, a former union leader, and Gwyneth Ho, a renowned journalist-turned-activist. 

The Hong Kong Department of Justice confirmed that it received applications for a leave to appeal from Mr Chow, Ms Wong, Ms Yeung and Ms Yu. These appeal hearings have not yet been scheduled.

This holiday season, Hong Kong Watch continues to call for the immediate and unconditional release of Jimmy Lai, the Hong Kong 47, and all political prisoners in Hong Kong, so that they may be reunited with their family and friends next Christmas.