Prominent Hong Kong democracy advocate and newspaper founder Jimmy Lai returned to court yesterday to contest an attempt by the government to keep him in jail while facing charges under a sweeping new national security law.
No verdict was announced following the hearing and Lai remained in custody.
Lai was brought to the Court of Final Appeal in a prison van and entered through an inflatable tunnel as large numbers of journalists sought to capture the scene.
Lai was arrested last month in a sweep against pro-democracy activists accused over their involvement in 2019 anti-government protests. First refused bail, Lai was released on appeal, leading to attacks on Hong Kong’s judiciary by the ruling Communist Party newspaper People’s Daily. He was returned to jail on New Year’s Eve ahead of a new hearing.
Hong Kong has jailed several pro-democracy activists in recent months, including student protest leaders Joshua Wong and Agnes Chow, for their involvement in the anti-government protests. MDT/AP
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