Hong Kong Judge Challenges Defence in Jimmy Lai National Security Trial

Jimmy Lai, founder of Hong Kong's pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper, is undergoing a prolonged national security trial under Beijing's 2020 National Security Law, facing charges including conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and publishing seditious material. His defence team argues for a strict literal interpretation of the law, suggesting it does not penalize calls for sanctions against individual officials, but a judge countered that the law should be interpreted purposively to counter all forms of foreign interference, including sanctions targeting officials. The trial, which has lasted nearly twice its initially expected duration, is viewed as a critical test of Beijing’s crackdown on dissent and freedom of speech in Hong Kong. Lai's son has expressed fears that his 77-year-old father may spend the rest of his life in prison, describing the proceedings as a 'textbook show trial' with an expected guilty verdict. The case highlights tensions in Hong Kong’s legal and political landscape since the 1997 handover and the imposition of the National Security Law, which many see as eroding the city’s promised autonomy and civil liberties. The court is expected to announce its verdict soon, with Lai's age and health potentially influencing sentencing.