Hong Kong Court Upholds Jimmy Lai's Conviction

Hong Kong's highest court has rejected the appeals of media tycoon Jimmy Lai and six other pro-democracy activists to overturn their convictions for participating in an unauthorized assembly during the 2019 protests. The court unanimously upheld the convictions, dismissing the argument that the trial judge failed to assess 'operational proportionality' in their sentencing. Chris Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong, criticized the decision as unjust and indicative of the deteriorating rule of law in the city. The court's judgment emphasized that a separate proportionality inquiry for arrest, prosecution, conviction, and sentencing is inappropriate under Hong Kong's legal framework. This decision underscores the ongoing tension between Hong Kong's legal system and international human rights standards, particularly amid Beijing's increasing control over the region.