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Hong Kong court rejects Jimmy Lai`s bid to dismiss sedition charge
Updated On: 22 December, 2023 01:27 PM IST | Sanjana Deshpande
A Hong Kong court, amid Jimmy Lai`s high-profile national security trial, dismissed his attempt to throw out a sedition charge. This decision comes as part of the ongoing trial, now in its third day. Pics/ AFP
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A Hong Kong court, amid Jimmy Lai`s high-profile national security trial, dismissed his attempt to throw out a sedition charge. This decision comes as part of the ongoing trial, now in its third day. Pics/ AFP
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Lai, aged 76, was arrested during the city`s crackdown on dissidents subsequent to extensive pro-democracy protests in 2019. He potentially faces life imprisonment if found guilty under Beijing`s expansive national security law. The charges against him include colluding with foreign forces to jeopardize national security and conspiring to publish seditious materials.
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Foreign governments, business professionals, and legal scholars are closely monitoring this case. It is closely associated with the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper, Apple Daily, established by Lai. Many perceive this trial as a significant test for judicial autonomy in Hong Kong and a reflection of the city`s freedoms.
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Once a former British colony that returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with assurances of retaining Western-style civil liberties for 50 years, Hong Kong has witnessed a decline in these freedoms with the imposition of the national security law. This law has resulted in the detainment and suppression of numerous prominent pro-democracy activists.
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The judges overseeing the case heard arguments regarding the prosecution`s adherence to the time limit for charging Lai with sedition. The law mandates sedition charges to be filed within six months of the alleged offence. Ultimately, the judges, government-approved for the trial, ruled in favour of the prosecution, stating that the charge was filed within the stipulated time.
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Anticipated to span around 80 days without a jury, the trial remains a significant legal event drawing international attention due to its potential implications on Hong Kong`s political landscape and civil liberties.
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Throughout the proceedings, Lai, attired in a navy blazer, displayed calmness and even exchanged smiles with his family upon entering the courtroom.
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Criticism of Lai`s prosecution has surfaced from the United States and the United Kingdom. Beijing has condemned these comments, labelling them as irresponsible and contradictory to international law and norms.
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Hong Kong, once considered a stronghold of media freedom in Asia, has suffered a significant setback. Reporters Without Borders` World Press Freedom Index ranked the city at 140th out of 180 countries and territories, highlighting a dramatic decline in press freedoms since the imposition of the security law in 2020. Both Hong Kong and China tout the law as a means to restore stability in the city.
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