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☆ Who is Jimmy Lai, the Hong Kong media tycoon facing a life sentence in a national security trial?
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Now 77, he's facing a life sentence in a national security trial in Hong Kong. I would just relay to him what happened in Hong Kong when he asked me," Lai said in court, per Reuters. This mass sentencing of Hong Kong's activists was also based on charges under Hong Kong's national security law. Related storiesThe imposition of the national security law marked the effective end of Hong Kong's political autonomy from China. "Above all else, the implementation rules have the potential to radically criminalize online speech in Hong Kong," Woodhams said.

Persons: Jimmy Lai, Kong's, Lai, Hong Kong's, Mike Pence Organizations: Hong Kong, Apple, China, White House, Democracy Locations: Hong, Hong Kong, China, Northern California

☆ Former Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai begins to testify in his national security trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Ap-Live-Blog-Byline-Image.Png | The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

HONG KONG — Former Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai began testifying Wednesday in his landmark national security trial that is widely seen as a measure of press freedom and judicial independence in the Chinese territory. He is fighting charges of colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security and conspiring with others to issue seditious publications. Lai, 76, faces up to life in prison if convicted under a national security law imposed by Beijing. But critics say that promise has become threadbare under the rubric of maintaining national security. It added that judges remain independent and partial when handling national security cases.

Persons: Jimmy Lai, Lai, Roman Catholic Cardinal Joseph Zen, Anthony Wallace, Mike Pence, Mike Pompeo, William Wong, Wong, Kongers, “, ”, Donald Trump, Xi Jinping, Hong, John Lee, Lai ., Keir Starmer, Xi, Chris Tang, Sebastien Lai, Doughty, Chambers, Jodie Ginsber Organizations: Roman Catholic, Catholic, Apple Daily, Getty, British, Authorities, Prosecutors, Beijing “, U.S, American, United Nations, Capitol, Protect Journalists, Hong Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Beijing, AFP, United States, U.S, Lai . British, British, Brazil, Hong, Britain, Washington

☆ 45 Hong Kong pro-democracy activists are sentenced to jail in city’s biggest national security trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Jennifer Jett | Jennifer Jett Is The Asia Digital Editor For Nbc News | Based In Hong Kong. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

HONG KONG — A Hong Kong court sentenced dozens of leading pro-democracy figures to up to 10 years prison Tuesday in the single largest trial under a national security law that critics say has been used to all but eliminate political dissent in the Chinese territory. Lawyers for the defendants have argued that such action was within the bounds of Hong Kong law. In March, Hong Kong’s opposition-free legislature also enacted local national security legislation. Among the 47 are “second-tier pan-democrats” who were previously active members of the Hong Kong legislature, Burns said. Hong Kong officials said last month that there was no time limit for prosecuting the cases, noting that it takes time to gather evidence.

Persons: Benny Tai, Tai, Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s, Hong, Maya Wang, ”, Tai —, John Burns, Burns, Jimmy Lai, “, Jonathan Sumption, ” Sumption, Kong’s, of Organizations: University of Hong Kong, Hong, Authorities, Human Rights, University of Hong, Apple Daily, Pew Research Center, Financial Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Beijing, British, U.S, China, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong’s

He was the founder of Apple Daily, a pro-democracy, anti-Beijing newspaper that was forced to shut down in 2021. The trial, which began in December 2023, is the most high-profile prosecution of a Hong Kong media figure since the city was handed over from British to Chinese control in 1997. Like all national security trials in Hong Kong, Lai’s trial does not have a jury and is presided over by three judges picked from a national security committee that is approved by Hong Kong’s leader. “Jimmy Lai is a key instigator of anti-China activities, and his collusion with external forces to disrupt Hong Kong and incite division is well-known,” China’s foreign ministry office in Hong Kong said in a statement last week. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked Hong Kong at 135 out of 180 places in its annual press freedom ranking.

Persons: Jimmy Lai, hasn’t, Hong Kong’s, Joshua Wong, “, Donald Trump, Lai, Keir Starmer, Xi Jinping, “ We’re, Jimmy Lai’s, ” Starmer, Xi, Daniel Suen, ’, Chiu Mei, “ Lai, ”, Chris Lau, CNN Lai, Trump Lai, Mike Pence, Trump, you’re, ” Lai, Hong, Anthony Kwan, John Lee, Lee, Trump’s, Hugh Hewitt, I’ll Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Apple, White, Apple Daily, Getty, Hong, CNN, “, ” Prosecutors, Kowloon Law, Trump, Beijing, Hong Kong . Police, ” Police, HK, Hong Kong Locations: Hong Kong, China, Britain, British, Brazil, AFP, Beijing, Kowloon, Washington, “ Hong Kong, China , Hong Kong, Hong

HONG KONG — Hong Kong’s top leader on Tuesday warned President-elect Donald Trump not to interfere in the Chinese territory’s internal affairs after he said he would “100%” free the imprisoned pro-democracy activist and tycoon Jimmy Lai. He said Hong Kong, whose government denies that judicial independence is under threat, also valued the rule of law. “In these respects, I hope that all countries will respect the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and avoid political interference that could affect the judiciary and normal commercial activities in Hong Kong,” he said. Hong Kong also enacted its own national security legislation in March. Pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai being escorted out of court in Hong Kong in 2021.

Persons: Hong Kong’s, Donald Trump, Jimmy Lai, Lai, Hong, Trump, Hugh Hewitt, I’ll, Lee, ”, “, Hong Kong, . Lai, John Burns, ” Burns, ” Lai, Burns, Sen, Marco Rubio, ” Lee Organizations: Apple, Hong, Administrative, AFP, Getty, University of Hong, NBC News, “, Trump, Republican, Fraser Institute Locations: HONG KONG, Hong, China, Hong Kong, United States, U.S, Beijing, British, ., University of Hong Kong, ” Hong Kong, Washington , New York, San Francisco, Vancouver, Singapore

☆ Don’t Look Away From What’s Happening in Hong Kong - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Maya Wang | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“What should I do with those copies of Apple Daily?”Someone in Hong Kong who I was chatting with on the phone recently had suddenly dropped her voice to ask that question, referring to the pro-democracy newspaper that the government forced to shut down in 2021. “Should I toss them or send them to you?”My conversations with Hong Kong friends are peppered with such whispers these days. Last week, the city enacted a draconian security law — its second serious legislative assault on Hong Kong’s freedoms since 2020. It had rule of law, a rowdy press and a semi-democratic Legislature that kept the powerful in check. Anyone who grew up in China in the 1980s and 1990s could sing the Cantopop songs of Hong Kong stars like Anita Mui, and that was a problem for Beijing: Freedom was glamorous, desirable.

Persons: “, Hong Kong, —, Anita Mui, Beijing’s Organizations: Apple Daily, Britain Locations: Hong Kong, China, Beijing

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong begun public consultation Tuesday on enacting its own national security law, beginning a process to implement legislation that for years was widely opposed by residents who feared the erosion of their civil liberties. Beijing imposed a national security law on Hong Kong in 2020 and a crackdown on dissent followed. Both the Hong Kong and Beijing governments have hailed the law for restoring stability after the massive pro-democracy protests in 2019. But the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, requires the city to enact its own national security law. Officials have said the “painful experiences” of the 2019 protests demonstrated that national security risks are real.

Persons: Hong Kong’s, “, John Lee, “ It’s, ___ Soo Organizations: Apple Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Beijing, U.S, Singapore, British

☆ First Prosecution Witness Testifies Against Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Jessie Pang and Edward ChoHONG KONG (Reuters) - The first prosecution witness to testify in a landmark national security case against Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai said on Wednesday he had been instructed by Lai to call people to join protests in 2019 and draw the attention of western democracies. The witness, Cheung Kim-hung, said Lai believed a proposed law that would allow people in Hong Kong to be sent to China to face trial in courts controlled by the Communist Party would be used to crackdown on the territory's democracy and freedoms. He told the court that the image of Lai "was all along very clear, who pursued democracy, freedom and was anti-totalitarian". Hong Kong officials say Lai will receive a fair trial. Both Chinese and Hong Kong officials have said the national security laws were vital to restoring stability in Hong Kong.

Persons: Jessie Pang, Edward Cho HONG, Jimmy Lai, Lai, Cheung Kim, Cheung, Hong, Apple, Chan Pui, Yeung Ching, kee, Andy Li, Chan, Edward Cho, Dorothy Kam, Greg Torode, Neil Fullick Organizations: Reuters, Hong, Communist Party, Apple, Next Locations: Edward Cho HONG KONG, Hong Kong, China, Beijing, Britain, United States

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Monday announced a White House initiative to improve how the federal government approaches and funds research into the health of women, who make up more than half of the U.S. population but remain understudied and underrepresented in health research. The White House Initiative on Women's Health Research will be led by first lady Jill Biden and the White House Gender Policy Council. Bertagnolli gave a broad answer in which she said far too little is known about women's health through all stages of life. Biden's memorandum directs members to report back within 45 days with “concrete recommendations" to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of women's health issues. Mazure joined the first lady's office from the Yale School of Medicine, where she created its Women's Health Research Center.

Persons: —, Biden, Jill Biden, Joe Biden, he's, “, Maria Shriver, Joe, ” Jill Biden, Shriver, ” Shriver, ” Jennifer Klein, Monica Bertagnolli's, Bertagnolli, Carolyn Mazure, Mazure, Lauran Neergaard Organizations: WASHINGTON, Monday, Biden, White, Initiative, Women's Health, Gender, Democratic, Gender Policy, of Health, Human Services, Veterans Affairs , Defense, National Institutes of Health, Yale School of Medicine, Health Research Center, AP Locations: California, Delaware

☆ Son of jailed tycoon Jimmy Lai says it's in Hong Kong's interest to free him
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Sebastien Lai, son of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, holds a sign calling for the release of his father on the sidelines of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, September 27, 2023. Sebastien Lai, who was in Geneva to take part in a British-organised event on media freedom in Hong Kong, has not seen his 75-year-old father in three years. This week he marked his 1,000th day in a Hong Kong prison on charges related to a law on national security that Beijing imposed on Hong Kong in 2020 after months of anti-government protests. He fears," Sebastien Lai said. Reporting by Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber in Geneva; Additional reporting by Farah Master in Hong Kong; Editing by Andrea RicciOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sebastien Lai, Jimmy Lai, Gabrielle Tetrault, Farber, he's, Xi Jinping, Rebecca Vincent, Gabrielle Tétrault, Farah Master, Andrea Ricci Organizations: United Nations Human Rights, REUTERS, Rights, Apple Daily, China's Communist Party, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hong, Thomson Locations: Hong Kong, Geneva, Switzerland, British, Beijing, United Kingdom, United States, China

☆ Hong Kong pro-democracy radio closes in face of "dangerous" pressure
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Jessie Pang | Thomson Reuters | Jessie Pang Joined Reuters In After An Internship. She Covers Hong Kong With A Focus On Politics | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

HONG KONG, June 30 (Reuters) - Hong Kong's pro-democracy online Citizens' Radio station will cease operations on Friday owing to what its founder described as a "dangerous" political situation and the freezing of its bank account. Tsang also said his radio station's bank account had been frozen, without giving specifics. Hong Kong authorities have repeatedly said that media freedoms are respected and enshrined in city laws. In 2019, four masked men wielding bats and hammers barged in to the radio station after smashing through its glass door. Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" agreement aimed a preserving its freedoms for 50 years.

Persons: Kong's, Tsang Kin, Tsang, Hong, Cédric Alviani, OFCA, Jimmy Lai, Hong Kong, Jessie Pang, James Pomfret, Robert Birsel Organizations: Citizens, Apple Daily, Radio, Media, Hong Kong, Communications Authority, Reuters, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Hong, China, Hong Kong, East Asia

☆ Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai loses appeal against phone search
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Jessie Pang | Thomson Reuters | Jessie Pang Joined Reuters In After An Internship. She Covers Hong Kong With A Focus On Politics | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG, June 19 (Reuters) - A Hong Kong appeal court on Monday blocked jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai's bid to challenge in the city's highest court a warrant obtained by national security police to scrutinise the contents of his mobile phones. Lai, 75, is the founder of the now shut pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily and is due to face trial in September on three charges under the city's sweeping national security law, including collusion with foreign forces. Lai is one of the most prominent Hong Kong critics of China's Communist Party leadership, including President Xi Jinping. Lai lost a bid to end his national security trial in May. Beijing imposed the national security law on Hong Kong in 2020 after months of anti-government protests.

Persons: Jimmy Lai's, Lai, Xi Jinping, Hong, Jessie Pang, Greg Torode, Robert Birsel Organizations: Apple Daily, China's Communist Party, Monday, Apple, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Beijing, China

☆ Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai loses bid to terminate national security trial
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Jessie Pang | Thomson Reuters | Jessie Pang Joined Reuters In After An Internship. She Covers Hong Kong With A Focus On Politics | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

HONG KONG, May 29 (Reuters) - A Hong Kong Court on Monday rejected an application to terminate a landmark national security trial against media tycoon Jimmy Lai, a case that could see him spend the rest of his life in prison if convicted. Jimmy Lai, 75, is the founder of now shut pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily and one of the most prominent Hong Kong critics of China's Communist Party leadership, including President Xi Jinping. Lai and his three companies, Apple Daily Limited, Apple Daily Printing Limited, AD Internet Limited faced a total of three charges under the national security law, including collusion with foreign forces. Beijing imposed the national security law on Hong Kong in 2020 after months of anti-government protests. The security law gives the power of the Chief Executive to select a panel of judges who can hear national security cases.

☆ Hong Kong court rejects challenge by jailed media tycoon Lai over British lawyer
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Jessie Pang | Thomson Reuters | Jessie Pang Joined Reuters In After An Internship. She Covers Hong Kong With A Focus On Politics | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

HONG KONG, May 19 (Reuters) - A Hong Kong court on Friday dismissed an attempt by jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai to challenge a decision by security officials to effectively bar his British lawyer from representing him in a landmark national security trial. Lai's legal team filed a judicial review after Hong Kong's National Security Committee (NSC), headed by senior Hong Kong and Chinese officials, ruled that the admission of senior British barrister Timothy Owen could harm national security and advised Hong Kong authorities to reject his visa. Chief High Court judge Jeremy Poon, in dismissing Lai's challenge, said Hong Kong courts essentially had no authority over the National Security Committee. "You cannot have a body which can simply say magic words (on) national security, and be able to be free from any challenge," Pang said. Beijing imposed the national security law on Hong Kong in 2020 after months of anti-government protests.

☆ Hong Kong restricts foreign lawyers from national security cases
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Jessie Pang | Thomson Reuters | Jessie Pang Joined Reuters In After An Internship. She Covers Hong Kong With A Focus On Politics | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

HONG KONG, May 10 (Reuters) - Hong Kong's legislature passed a legal amendment on Wednesday to prevent foreign lawyers working on national security cases, a restriction critics say will undermine fair trials and the right of defendants to choose their lawyers. The amendment enshrines in law a ruling from China's top lawmaking body last December that Hong Kong courts must get the approval of the city's leader before admitting a foreign lawyer without Hong Kong qualifications for national security cases. It would also discourage some foreign lawyers from getting Hong Kong restricts foreign lawyers from national security casesinvolved, he said. "The vague definition of 'cases concerning national security' in the bill implies that the government can arbitrarily use the new powers to allow or prohibit foreign lawyers from taking up local cases, whatever civil or criminal, on the over-broad ground of 'national security'," Lai said. Beijing imposed the national security law on Hong Kong in 2020 after months of anti-government protests.

☆ Opinion | Hong Kong’s Memory Is Being Erased
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Louisa Lim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

In Hong Kong the silence has set in much more quickly. I worked in Hong Kong’s once-cacophonous newsrooms and covered its boisterous protest rallies. Now most Hong Kong journalists I know have fallen silent. After a draconian national security law was imposed on Hong Kong in 2020, at least 12 news outlets closed down, including the popular, pro-democracy Apple Daily. History is identity, and to challenge this foundational tenet of Hong Kongers’ experience is to assault their identity.

WASHINGTON, March 15 (Reuters) - Forty of the 100 U.S. senators co-sponsored a resolution on Wednesday urging a strong U.S. government response to any Chinese efforts to clamp down on dissent in Hong Kong, including the use of sanctions and other tools. The resolution is non-binding, but is intended to convey a strong sense that lawmakers are closely watching events in China and will respond. China imposed a national security law on Hong Kong in 2020 outlawing acts including subversion with up to life in prison. The law has been criticized by some Western governments as a tool to crush dissent, but the Chinese and Hong Kong governments say it has restored stability to the city after protracted pro-democracy protests in 2019. Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ China gives Hong Kong leader power to bar overseas lawyers in national security cases
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-31 | by ( Industry Insight | Saw Law Firms Move Past The Pandemic Into A More Client-Focused Service Environment | Thomson Reuters Institute | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The NPCSC ruling said Hong Kong courts must now obtain approval from the chief executive before admitting any foreign lawyer without local qualifications to work on national security cases. Under the national security law, the decisions made by the committee cannot be challenged by a judicial review. "Beyond national security cases, then they are most welcome, provided that they satisfied the procedure to obtain an ad hoc admission approval by the court," Lee said. The founder of now shut pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, Lai is one of the most prominent Hong Kong critics of China's Communist Party leadership, including Xi Jinping. Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom; Editing by Anne Marie Roantree and Kim CoghillOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Hong Kong jails pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai over fraud
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai leaves the Court of Final Appeal after his bail was denied in Hong Kong on Feb. 9, 2021. A Hong Kong court sentenced a pro-democracy media tycoon to five years and nine months in prison on Saturday over two fraud charges linked to lease violations, the latest of a series of cases against prominent activists that critics say are aimed at crushing dissent in the city. Jimmy Lai, who was arrested during a crackdown on the city's pro-democracy movement following widespread protests in 2019 and under the National Security Law imposed by Beijing, was also fined 2 million Hong Kong dollars ($257,000). The second fraud count was for letting the same firm use the media outlet's office space in an alleged breach of lease agreements from 1998 to 2015. The court at that time ruled the moves had violated lease agreements with the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corp. and that Lai had hidden the fact that the company was occupying space in the building.

☆ Hong Kong jails pro-democracy media tycoon over fraud
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

A Hong Kong court sentenced a pro-democracy media tycoon to five years and nine months in prison on Saturday over two fraud charges linked to lease violations, the latest of a series of cases against prominent activists that critics say are aimed at crushing dissent in the city. Jimmy Lai, who was arrested during a crackdown on the city’s pro-democracy movement following widespread protests in 2019 and under the National Security Law imposed by Beijing, was also fined 2 million Hong Kong dollars ($257,000). His media company, Next Digital, published the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily. His national security trial, initially scheduled to begin on Dec. 1, was postponed after Hong Kong leader John Lee asked China to effectively block him from hiring a British defense lawyer. Hong Kong, a former British colony, returned to China’s rule in 1997.

[1/2] Media mogul Jimmy Lai, founder of Apple Daily, leaves the Court of Final Appeal by prison van in Hong Kong, China February 9, 2021. REUTERS/Tyrone SiuHONG KONG, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Pro-democracy Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai was sentenced on Saturday to five years and nine months in prison for fraud, convicted of violating a lease contract for the headquarters of a liberal newspaper he used to run. Lai's lawyer, Derek Chan, had urged the judge to consider Lai's age and contributions to Hong Kong's media industry. A separate, landmark national security trial involving Lai is scheduled to resume on Tuesday. ($1 = 7.7854 Hong Kong dollars)Reporting by Jessie Pang and James Pomfret; Editing by William MallardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Hong Kong CNN —A Hong Kong court on Saturday sentenced jailed media mogul Jimmy Lai to five years and nine months in prison for fraud, in the latest legal challenge against the pro-democracy tycoon. Along with the jail sentence, Lai was also fined 2 million Hong Kong dollars ($257,000) and disqualified as a company director for eight years. Lai, who has been remanded in custody for almost two years, is also facing a trial under Hong Kong’s sweeping national security law. However, cases under the national security law are handled by a dedicated branch of the Hong Kong police and designated national security judges, raising concern about Beijing’s potential influence on proceedings. In November, Hong Kong’s highest court upheld a verdict to allow a British barrister to represent the tycoon in his national security case.

☆ Hong Kong court adjourns trial of tycoon and China critic Jimmy Lai
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

[1/4] Armed police stand guard as they escort a prison van that is believed to carry media mogul Jimmy Lai, founder of Apple Daily, to the High Court in Hong Kong, China, December 1, 2022. REUTERS/Tyrone SiuHONG KONG, Dec 1 (Reuters) - A Hong Kong court on Thursday adjourned to Dec. 13 the high-profile trial of tycoon and China critic Jimmy Lai, who is charged with two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign countries or external elements, and one count of collusion with foreign forces under a national security law. Lai is also charged with conspiracy to print seditious publications. Reporting by Hong Kong Newsroom; Editing by Anne Marie Roantree and Tom HogueOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Factbox: A chronology of dissent in China in recent decades
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( James Pomfret | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The following is a timeline of some other notable protests, and public dissent against China's ruling Communist Party. 2009 - Xinjiang - In the region's worst ethnic unrest in decades, ethnic Uighurs attacked majority Han Chinese in the capital Urumqi, after an incident involving Uighur workers in a factory in southern China. China later builds massive "facilities" to turn Xinjiang into what a United Nations panel described as a "massive internment camp shrouded in secrecy". China later imposes a powerful national security law, arresting scores of democrats and shutting down civil society groups and liberal media outlets, including the Apple Daily newspaper. 2022 - Henan bank protests - Public protests simmer as thousands lose access to their savings in a banking fraud scandal centred on rural lenders in Henan and Anhui provinces.

But Hong Kong's Court of Final Appeal (CFA) on Monday gave a final ruling on the matter, rejecting the government's application to impose a "blanket ban" on foreign lawyers working on national security cases, bar exceptional circumstances. Lai is one of the most prominent Hong Kong critics of China's Communist Party leadership including Xi Jinping, and Hong Kong's Department of Justice made repeated attempts to block Owen from representing him. SWEEPING NATIONAL SECURITY LAWLee also said there was no means of ensuring a foreign lawyer would not divulge state secrets that might emerge during a national security trial. Beijing imposed the sweeping national security law on Hong Kong in June 2020 after sometimes-violent protests rocked the city for months the year before. Beijing's power of ultimate legal interpretation is outlined in the Basic Law, the mini-constitution that grants extensive Hong Kong autonomy and freedoms.

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