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Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai gets new jail sentence over October rally

Beijing critic and founder of Apple Daily newspaper Jimmy Lai must now serve a total of 20 months, including prison time for participating in anti-China protests on August 18 and August 31, 2019.

AFP

Millionaire media tycoon Jimmy Lai poses during an interview with AFP at the Next Digital offices in Hong Kong on June 16, 2020.

Jailed Hong Kong media tycoon and Beijing critic Jimmy Lai has been given a new prison sentence of 14 months over his role in a protest on October 1, 2019, one of the city's anti-Beijing rallies that year.

This month, Lai – who is already serving sentences adding up to 14 months for participating in similar demonstrations on August 18 and August 31, 2019 – and nine other activists pleaded guilty in District Court to organising an unauthorised assembly.

He has been in jail since December after being denied bail in a separate national security trial. He faces three charges under the new law, introduced by China in 2020 in response to the protests, including collusion with a foreign country.

Seven more activists jailed

Seven other leading activists, including 25-year-old youth campaigner Figo Chan, as well as former lawmakers Lee Cheuk-yan and Leung Kwok-hung, were also given new jail sentences for attending protests on the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China that were followed by a sweeping crackdown.

Many flashed "victory" hand signals on their way to court in a police van.

The new sentences are the latest in a relentless and successful campaign by China to smother dissent and dismantle Hong Kong's democracy movement.

Lai's repeated arrests have drawn criticism from Western governments and international rights groups, who raised concerns over waning freedoms in the global financial hub, including freedom of speech and assembly.

Beijing sees him as a traitor and an anti-China instigator.

China says the sweeping security law, which punishes anything Beijing considers as subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison, was vital to restore stability and prosperity.

Judge Amanda Woodcock, who handed Lai his previous illegal assembly sentence in April, delivered the sentence on Friday. She said part of the new sentence would be served consecutively, meaning Lai faces a total of 20 months in prison so far.

There were major clashes On October 1, China's national day, including a live round shot by a policeman at a protester swinging a long stick, the first use of a handgun after months of demonstrations.

"They did call for a peaceful, rational and non-violent procession but how naive and unrealistic was that considering what was happening on a daily basis was the opposite," Woodcock said. "This is not with hindsight. The risk was very real every day at that time."

The other nine defendants, including activists Figo Chan, Lee Cheuk-yan, Albert Ho and Leung Kwok-hung, who is known in Hong Kong as Long Hair, were sentenced to up to 18 months. Two received suspended sentences.

"Your Honour, for over 40 years I have strived for democratic reform in China," Lee told the court this week during one of the hearings.

"This is my unrequited love, the love for my country with such a heavy heart."

Activist Tsang Kin-shing, present at the court, condemned the "heavy" sentencing received by Long Hair, his colleague in the League of Social Democrats.

"We’re all trapped now in a prison city where freedom of expression is not allowed," Tsang told Reuters.

Authorities freeze Lai's assets

The sentence comes two weeks after authorities froze assets belonging to Lai, including bank accounts and his 71.26 percent stake in media publisher Next Digital.

Hong Kong's security chief sent letters to Lai and branches of HSBC and Citibank this month threatening up to seven years in prison for any dealings with the billionaire's accounts in the city, according to documents seen by Reuters.

The moves could imperil any attempt by the activist to move offshore assets back home to prop up Next Digital's troubled Apple Daily tabloid, a staunch government critic, one of Lai's financial advisers said.

SOURCE: TRTWorld and agencies