Hong Kong's Landmark Trial: Jimmy Lai's Battle for Justice Amid Health Concerns
Jimmy Lai, a pro-democracy businessman in Hong Kong, faces a pivotal national security trial. Despite health issues, he is charged with conspiracy relating to foreign collusion. The case underscores international concerns about Hong Kong's rights under China's national security laws and prompts global advocacy for Lai's release.
Pro-democracy businessman Jimmy Lai, 77, has begun his final submissions in a critical national security trial in Hong Kong, equipped with medication and a heart monitor due to health scares involving palpitations.
Lai, founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, denies charges of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and conspiring to publish seditious material. The court, recognizing his health challenges, has adjourned proceedings, confirming his fitness for trial with medical monitoring in place.
Amid heightened global scrutiny over China's influence on Hong Kong, international voices, including U.S. President Donald Trump, have urged for Lai's release and warned against the suppressive application of national security laws, spotlighting broader concerns over the region's autonomy.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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