Jimmy Lai defends ‘delivering freedom’ at national security trial

Lai’s son said the Vatican could “definitely” help his situation, but said its lack of action “doesn’t change the strength of my father’s faith and his clarity in what is right”.

The pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai gave evidence at his trial under Hong Kong’s national security law on 20 November, denying charges of seditious publication and foreign collusion relating to protests against the government in 2019.

“To participate in delivering freedom was a very good idea for me at that time. The more information you have, the more you are in the know and the more you are free,” said Lai, a Catholic convert and successful entrepreneur who owned the pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper. 

Prosecutors allege he conspired to publish seditious material and encouraged foreign governments to impose sanctions and “engage in other hostile activities” against the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities. Lai was arrested in 2020, and the government closed the Apple Daily in 2021.

The former Bishop of Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen, who received Lai into the Church, joined his family in the public gallery during the trial.

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More than 100 politicians from 24 countries signed a letter published last week condemning Lai’s “arbitrary detention and unfair trial”. His supporters have criticised the Vatican for failing to support Lai or to condemn his treatment by the authorities. He has been held in solitary confinement since his arrest and reportedly denied access to the sacraments.

Lai’s son said the Vatican could “definitely” help his situation, but said its lack of action “doesn’t change the strength of my father’s faith and his clarity in what is right”.

“I do wish the Vatican called for his release,” Sebastien Lai said in an interview with PBS. “This is a case about saving his life.”  He said the authorities denying his father access to the sacraments was “just petty but a very hurtful thing” which was “designed to break his spirit”. The Church, he said, should say that “this is not acceptable” and make arrangements to send a priest to Lai’s prison.

“I hardly think that sending somebody to Stanley Maximum Security Prison with the sacrament and going and saying we want to give the sacrament to this man, this good Catholic, is asking too much.”

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