HONG KONG: Jimmy Lai a well-known personality for advocating democracy in Hong Kong was handcuffed on Wednesday on a dubious fraud charge. Where China was sent in a clear message: If you oppose us anywhere in the world, we will crush you. Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai was denied bail on Thursday on a charge of fraud.
The decision to arrest him over the terms of a business lease fraud sends the additional message that any charges will do. While Mr. Lai’s fraud charge did not fall under the national security law, it marks the latest crackdown on pro-democracy figures in the former British colony, which was handed back to Beijing in 1997 with a promise to maintain the free-wheeling city’s way of life for 50 years. The 73-year-old Lia and two senior executives of his company Next Digital were charged on Wednesday on suspicion of concealing from and dishonestly representing the use of their office to their landlord, a public corporation set up by the Hong Kong government.
Lai has been a frequent visitor to Washington for meeting some officials including US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to rally support for Hong Kong democracy, prompting Beijing to label him a “traitor.” The security law was introduced on June 30 and punishes anything China considers subversion, secession, terrorism, or collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison.
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