Jimmy Lai, a prominent Hong Kong media mogul and democracy activist, has long been a thorn in Beijing’s side. Lai owned the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily and was an outspoken critic of China’s growing influence in Hong Kong. He was arrested for alleged violations of the controversial security law. His trial has become a symbol of the dwindling freedoms in the once free city.
The Department of Justice in Hong Kong has ignored offers from representatives from all over the world to testify in Lai’s trial. The refusal to hear potential witnesses exposes the trial as a politically staged show trial. On May 13, 2024, a group of MPs from nine countries, all members of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), requested to appear as witnesses in the trial against Jimmy Lai.
The petition submitted sets out the legal and factual reasons for the admissibility of their testimony in detail and convincingly. The MPs stressed that their knowledge of the events in question was first-hand and crucial for a fair assessment. The prosecution accuses Lai of conspiring with hostile powers – including a meeting in July 2019 with then-US Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo – and publishing subversive material.
Nevertheless, the Justice Department has rejected their offer. This not only undermines the prosecution’s argument, but also reveals a fundamental disregard for the rule of law. For IPAC, the exclusion of potentially exculpatory witness testimony indicates a legal process that functions as a tool of the state rather than a path to justice and truth.
This case, with its global impact and high-profile defendants, demands a thorough and impartial investigation of all evidence. However, the exclusion of witness testimony suggests a deliberate attempt to suppress critical voices and silence those who question the official narrative.
The significance of this trial goes far beyond Hong Kong. It shows that the erosion of the rule of law and judicial independence has serious consequences. Subjecting a prominent figure such as Jimmy Lai to such a blatantly unfair trial sets a dangerous precedent for how companies and individuals are treated in Hong Kong.
The integrity of the legal system is crucial for a predictable business environment. Compromising it not only threatens political critics, but also the economic interests of companies and investors in the region. The offers of IPAC members to testify as witnesses were a litmus test for the credibility of the judiciary.
The denial by the Hong Kong Justice Department makes it clear that this trial is not about justice, but about a politically motivated agenda. The trial against Jimmy Lai is designed to silence the opposition. And if it can happen to Jimmy Lai, it can happen to anyone.
Translated from English by Jessica Wagener.
Glacier Kwong writes this column alternately with Joshu Wong. The two young activists from Hong Kong are fighting against the growing influence of China in their homeland. Since Wong is currently in prison, Kwong is continuing this column alone for the time being.
Transparency note: Glacier Kwong works as a Senior Analyst for IPAC.
