“The more you have access to information, the more you know, the more free you are”

Jimmy Lai during an interview at the Next Digital offices in Hong Kong, June 16, 2020. ANTHONY WALLACE / AFP The fervent Catholic was able to get out of his accused box to approach the Bible on the stand. Jimmy Lai, almost 77, reached out to the holy book he has studied so much since his detention began four years ago, pledging to tell the truth. The Hong Kong media mogul, a great opponent of the Chinese regime, was finally able to begin to give his version of the facts at the resumption, Wednesday, November 20, of a trial begun in December 2023 for collusion with foreign forces and publication of articles seditious offense after which he risks life imprisonment. On Wednesday, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson called Mr. Lai an “agent and pawn of anti-China forces.” Read also | Article reserved for our subscribers Hong Kong: the legal agony of Jimmy Lai, fervent opponent of Beijing Read later In a green sweater under a gray jacket, he assured that he had never pushed foreign governments to act beyond affirmation of their support for the city’s freedoms and having always refused to allow its publications or journalists to support the independence of Hong Kong, an “unrealistic, too crazy” idea. But he did not deny his opinions, quite the contrary, affirming that the fundamental values ​​of his former flagship newspaper, Apple Daily, were those of Hong Kong. “The more you have access to information, the more you know, the more free you are,” said the former press boss in his calm voice. The day before, in the same courtroom, 45 former party leaders and committed citizens were sentenced to sentences ranging from four to ten years in prison. Called upon to clarify these values, he listed all these characteristics of the city which disappeared with the imposition in the summer of 2020 by Beijing of an implacable national security law. “The rule of law, the quest for democracy, freedom of expression, religion, assembly,” listed the man, sometimes turning his gaze towards his wife Teresa, in a black dress, and his daughter, in a white jacket. Toughening of security The accusation considers that Jimmy Lai used his influence with foreign governments, the first administration of Donald Trump (2017-2021) in particular, so that they took hostile actions against China and the authorities Hong Kong. For more than six hours on Wednesday, one of his lawyers made him detail his relations with American politicians, whom he visited in particular in July 2019, at a time when the youth of Hong Kong were massively mobilized in favor of his freedoms. Mr. Lai was received by Vice President Mike Pence at the White House and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. You have 57.21% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.



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