“He’s in good spirits, doing well, and reading a lot, but I worry
about his health because he has diabetes,” said a close family
associate via an encrypted messaging app. At 76, Jimmy Lai, the founder of Hong
Kong’s only pro-democracy press—now silenced—has been held in Stanley’s
maximum-security prison since 2020. He could face life imprisonment.
Although robust, the years of isolation—kept entirely apart from other
prisoners—have taken a toll on him, both physically and mentally. Yet, his
friend Benedict Rogers, a UK-based human rights activist and expert on China,
reassures himself, saying, “He is sustained by an extraordinary
spiritual strength.”
“The Bible is beside his bed in his cell”
“Faith is central to his life,” said Rogers, the founder
of Hong Kong Watch, a human rights organization. Baptized as an adult in
Myanmar, Rogers noted Lai’s deep connection to spiritual texts. “In
prison, Jimmy finds solace in spiritual readings—St. Thomas Aquinas, writings
by popes and theologians, and of course, the Bible, which stays beside his
bed.”
The most prominent political prisoner in Hong Kong, Lai has already been
sentenced to several years in prison for “collusion with foreign forces.” Yet,
he remains steadfast. “He firmly believes that his place as a defender
of freedoms is in prison, and he’s ready to face this immense challenge,”
Rogers added.
From refugee to press magnate
Lai’s extraordinary journey began at age 12 when he escaped mainland China
by swimming to Hong Kong. Starting out in factories and selling plastic
flowers, he gradually climbed the social ladder.
By 1989, Lai had built a media and textile empire in Hong Kong and Taiwan. However, the Chinese student protests in Tiananmen Square and their subsequent massacre profoundly altered his professional and spiritual trajectory.
During the protests, Lai produced hundreds of thousands of T-shirts
emblazoned with the word “Democracy” and the images of student
leaders. In 1990, he said, “Those students, demanding more
freedom and less corruption, inspired pride and hope for a free and democratic
future in China and Hong Kong.”
“Man does not live by bread alone”
The June 4, 1989 events left Lai both deeply saddened and enraged.
Shortly after, he launched newspapers deemed oppositional by Beijing. He saw
this as a way to show the regime he was unafraid. Lai often cited
scripture, saying, “God said man does not live by bread alone.”
In 1997, during the handover of Hong Kong to China, Lai experienced a
spiritual awakening that led him to convert to Catholicism. Baptized by
Salesian Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun of Hong Kong, Lai reflected, “I needed courage, and God opened His
doors to me.”
An unwavering commitment
Lai’s wife, Teresa, a devout Catholic, introduced him to faith through her
regular church attendance. This deepened his quest for a higher purpose beyond
material success. “His childhood poverty, struggles in factories, and
eventual wealth could have satisfied him, but it was clear he sought something
greater,” Rogers explained.
By 2019, Lai was at the forefront of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests,
marching in heavy rain or blazing heat. He also attended Catholic vigils
commemorating the Tiananmen Square massacre, gatherings now banned across
China.
When Beijing imposed its national security law in 2020, Lai was arrested and
his newspaper, Apple Dailywas raided. He had long anticipated this
moment, remarking, “If I suffer, it will be like Jesus on the cross. I
will feel God’s grace.” Despite holding a British passport and having
the means to flee, Lai chose to remain, seeing his fight as a moral obligation.
“If I don’t fight for democracy, who will?” he asked shortly before
his arrest. Now, facing life imprisonment, Lai’s story serves as a testament to
his faith, courage, and unwavering commitment to human dignity.
Brief Biography
- 1947: Born Lai Chee-ying in Guangdong, China.
- 1959: Swims to Hong Kong as a refugee.
- 1989: Becomes a wealthy entrepreneur and begins advocating for
democracy during the Tiananmen Square protests. - 1997: Converts to Catholicism following the Hong Kong handover.
- 2019: Actively supports pro-democracy protests.
- 2020: Arrested and charged with “collusion with foreign forces”;
now faces life imprisonment at 76.
