The media entrepreneur is a die-hard supporter of the democracy movement and has often criticized Beijing in the past. Does he have to go to jail for that?
Hong Kong (AP) - In Hong Kong, the pro-democratic media mogul Jimmy Lai has been arrested for alleged violations of the controversial law to protect national security.
Lai are accused of collusion with forces abroad and other violations. The newspaper "Apple Daily", which belongs to the 71-year-old's company, and other Hong Kong media reported unanimously.
In addition to Lai, his two sons Timothy and Ian as well as several members of the management team were arrested, the "Apple Daily" reported on. A large number of officials also searched his company's offices. The Hong Kong Police Department said on Twitter that seven people between the ages of 39 and 72 were initially arrested on suspicion of security law violations.
China is heavily criticized for its Hong Kong policy. The new security law was passed in late June. It targets activities that China sees as subversive, separatist, or terrorist. It is the most extensive encroachment on Hong Kong's autonomy to date and gives China's state security extensive powers. Hong Kong's democratic opposition believes that the law targets them.
Since the return of the former British Crown Colony to China in 1997, Hong Kong has been ruled autonomously with its own liberties. From the point of view of critics, the State Security Act marks the end of the "one country, two systems" principle that has been pursued since then. It is also seen as a violation of China's international obligations in returning Hong Kong.
The arrests came after the US put sanctions in force against Hong Kong's Prime Minister Carrie Lam and politicians in law on Friday, which was met with harsh criticism in Hong Kong.
Prime Minister Lam was recently heavily criticized for the controversial postponement of the Hong Kong election by a year. She had denied political motives for postponing the election. She justifies this with the risk of the coronavirus after the recent increase in new infections.
The foreign ministers of the USA, Great Britain, Canada, New Zealand and Australia are calling on the Hong Kong government to hold the election it has postponed as soon as possible. For this, the disqualified candidates would also have to be admitted again, they demanded in a joint statement on Sunday. Only in this way could there be an election that respects "the democratic rights and freedoms" of Hong Kong citizens, it said.
Beijing's recent interference in Hong Kong through strict security law is "very worrying." This undermines the fundamental rights and freedoms of Hong Kong citizens, it said.
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