Hong Kong court keeps Jimmy Lai in jail on security charges
Another Hong Kong court has denied bail to media tycoon and democracy activist Jimmy Lai while he fights national security charges, a victory for Chinese authorities’ efforts to rein in dissent in the Asian financial center.
High Court Judge Anthea Pang decided to keep Lai in jail after a hearing Thursday, the latest step in a constitutional battle over a China-drafted security law imposed on the former British colony in June. Earlier this month, Hong Kong’s highest court affirmed strict limitations on bail under the legislation and decided to keep Lai in custody, while giving him the option to seek release from a lower court.
The court hearing Thursday was subject to restrictions that prevented journalists from reporting details of the court’s proceedings or the reasoning behind the ruling. One provision of the security law says that suspects shouldn’t receive bail “unless the judge has sufficient grounds for believing” they won’t continue to commit acts endangering national security.
Lai’s national security trial is expected to begin later this year. He is also facing prison time in several other criminal cases over allegations that he participated in unauthorized protests. He denies all charges.
The ruling is a victory for Chinese authorities that had sought Lai’s immediate detention under the national security law enacted last year. The People’s Daily, the Chinese Communist Party’s top newspaper, had criticized an earlier decision to release Lai, warning that the case could be transfered to the mainland courts.
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