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

The fervent Catholic was able to get out of his dock 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 “ agent and pawn of anti-Chinese forces ».

In a green sweater under a gray jacket, he assured that he had never pushed foreign governments to act beyond affirming their support for the city's freedoms and that he had always refused to allow his publications or journalists to support the independence of Hong Kong, an idea “unrealistic, too crazy”. But he did not deny any of his opinions, quite the contrary, affirming that the fundamental values ​​of his former flagship newspaper, Apple Dailywere 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.

Safe curing

The prosecution 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 Hong Kong authorities. For more than six hours on Wednesday, one of his lawyers made him detail his relations with American politicians, whom he notably visited in July 2019, at a time when the youth of Hong Kong were massively mobilized in favor of its freedoms. Mr. Lai was received by Vice President Mike Pence at the White House and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

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