HK media tycoon to remain in custody

HONG KONG: Hong Kong’s top court ordered pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai to stay behind bars as it sided with prosecutors in the first legal test of Beijing’s sweeping new national security law.

The landmark case cements the dramatic changes the new law has begun making to semiautonomous Hong Kong’s common law traditions as Beijing seeks to snuff out dissent in the restless financial hub.

Mr Lai (pictured), the 73year-old owner of pro-democracy tabloid Apple Daily, is one of 100 activists arrested under the law since it was enacted in June, and the highest-profile figure to be placed in pre-trial custody. He has been charged with “colluding with foreign forces” – one of the new security crimes – for allegedly calling for sanctions against Hong Kong and China.

The security law is the most pronounced shift in Hong Kong’s relationship with China since it was handed back by Britain in 1997. It criminalised a host of political views and toppled the legal firewall between the two territories.

Tuesday’s ruling by the Court of Final Appeal centred around bail. Presumption of bail for nonviolent crimes is a hallmark of Hong Kong’s legal system.

But the national security law removes that presumption and says judges have to be sure a defendant “will not continue to commit acts endangering national security”.

Mr Lai was detained in December and released on bail for about a week after a lower court granted him HK$10m ($1.6m) bail together with a stringent list of requirements.

But he was put back behind bars after the prosecution sought to challenge those bail conditions. On Tuesday, a panel of five senior judges ruled in favour of the prosecution and said the lower court judge had erred in granting bail.

As I wrote many months ago, and now that a vaccine is imminent, all Australians, all other people on visas and those who chose to travel here must carry a COVID passport. If one – hopefully all – are vaccinated, a card issued by the Australian Government will be stamped and dated and remain with the recipient.

The validated card will permit the holder to travel within Australia where there are no restrictions and enter venues of their choice. No card, no travel or entry. Stewart Edwards

Mount Stuart