The British government is calling on Foreign Secretary David Cameron to request the freedom of Jimmy Lai, a newspaper mogul who is facing a prominent trial in Hong Kong later this month.
Lai, who is 76 years old, is currently facing the possibility of a life imprisonment. He has been accused of collaborating with foreign forces, which is a violation under the strict national security law implemented by Beijing in 2020 after widespread demonstrations.
Sebastien, the son of Cameron, has requested that his father “stand by my side” amidst the controversy surrounding his connections to China. He has been trying to arrange a meeting with the foreign secretary to discuss his father’s situation.
Cameron’s request for his father’s freedom would convey a strong message to China, according to Sebastien. He stated, “I am confident that Lord Cameron will act in the best interest of his nation and its people.”
In the past, the foreign secretary has been under scrutiny regarding his connections to China. According to The Observer, last month there were demands for Cameron to fully disclose his financial interests due to concerns about his involvement in projects related to China.
During September, Cameron gave presentations at two gatherings in the United Arab Emirates to advertise Sri Lanka’s Port City Colombo. This project involves the support of Chinese investment.
According to the Sri Lankan media, Cameron received a payment of $210,000 (equivalent to about £167,000) for his speaking engagement. However, a reliable source from Cameron’s team denied the accuracy of these reported numbers.
In August of 2020, Jimmy Lai was apprehended during a Hong Kong police operation on the headquarters of his publication, Apple Daily. This act of defiance, which showed support for pro-democracy demonstrations, had greatly angered China.
The European parliament has called for his freedom, while Washington has expressed disapproval of Lai’s previous conviction for fraud.
When Lai was arrested, Sebastien was in Taiwan, where he currently resides. His father advised him not to go back to his previous home in the former British colony. Lai has been kept in isolation since then.
Sebastien, age 29, stated that he has been explicitly advised against returning to Hong Kong due to safety concerns.
“This individual is clearly physically robust, however, one cannot assume this will always be the case as he ages. It is difficult to fathom the experience of spending over 1,000 days in solitary confinement.”
As a 12-year-old stowaway in the former British colony, Jimmy Lai’s journey has led him to become one of Hong Kong’s most notable figures. From his success in the textile industry, Lai went on to establish a series of magazines following the events of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. In 1995, he launched the tabloid-style publication, Apple Daily. Its shutdown marked the end of press freedom in Hong Kong and a setback for the pro-democracy movement.
Sebastien Lai has served as a spokesperson and representative for his father, who is set to go on trial on December 18 for a duration of 80 days. However, the trial has been postponed in the past. Unfortunately, his father’s legal team in the UK has been unable to communicate with Lai and has also been targeted by cyber attacks.
Sebastien Lai has been expressing his desire to meet with the foreign secretary since July 2022. He expressed disappointment that his request has not been acknowledged by the current foreign secretary, Lord Cameron, making him the third consecutive foreign secretary to not respond. Although he has been able to meet with foreign ministers from other nations, he has yet to meet with one from the UK.
A representative from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) stated that the situation of British citizen Jimmy Lai is of great importance to HMG. It has been brought to the attention of the Chinese government several times, including in a recent conversation between the foreign secretary and Wang Yi.
“The prosecution of Mr. Lai has become heavily influenced by politics – he and others are intentionally being singled out in order to silence dissent using the excuse of national security.”
According to sources from the FCDO, Cameron is willing to have a meeting with Sebastien during his visit to London.
Source: theguardian.com
