The Court of Hong Kong denied an application to end a landmark national security trial against media tycoon Jimmy Lai. It is a case that has the power to imprison him for the rest of his life. Lai is the founder of now shut pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily. He is also one of the most highlighted Hong Kong critics of China’s Communist Party leadership. Lai and his three companies – Apple Daily Limited, Apple Daily Printing Limited and AD Internet Limited – have three charges which are executed under the national security law, also containing collusion with foreign forces. Beijing has applied the national security law on Hong Kong in 2020 after experiencing several months protests against the rulership. His lawyer , Mr Robert Pang, has made efforts to end the proceedings, stating that his client is going through bias by the court. If there is any question about the independence and impartiality of the court… that cannot be allowed,” said Mr Pang.
Mr Pang has a view on this matter and continues to say that preventing Lai’s British lawyer, Mr Timothy Owen, from representing him in the trial is “persecution, not prosecution”. Lai’s challenge was rejected. High Court judges were given the opportunity to be national security judges by the chief executive upon the recommendation of the Judicial Officers. The security law provides the power of the Chief Executive to select the judges who will be involved in national security cases for resolutions. The High Court has rejected an attempt by Lai to challenge the resolution done by security officials to Mr Owen from representing him in the trial. The allowance of foreign lawyers by both prosecutors and defence has been a slice of its rule of law traditions. Lai was sent to jail for five years and nine months on the basis of a fraud charge.