The trial of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been postponed until Monday, August 18, after his lawyer reported that the 77-year-old had suffered heart palpitations. The founder of Apple Daily newspaper is charged with foreign collusion under Hong Kong’s national security law, imposed following widespread pro-democracy protests in 2019. The law has been widely criticized, and Western nations, including the US, have called for Lai’s immediate release, citing the trial’s political motivation.
Lai’s lawyer, Robert Pang, informed the court that his client had experienced heart “palpitations” and feelings of “collapsing”. Although Lai didn’t want to draw attention to his health, the court decided to adjourn the case to ensure he received proper medical attention. The three-judge panel instructed prison authorities to provide Lai with a wearable heart monitor and medication before the trial resumes.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) expressed concern over Lai’s prolonged detention, stating, “The world is watching how Hong Kong treats its journalists.” CPJ regional director Beh Lih Yi added, “The prolonged detention of Jimmy Lai not only destroys Hong Kong’s historic reputation as a free and open society, but also as a trusted hub for business.” US President Donald Trump has promised to “do everything I can to save him,” after discussing Lai’s case with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The trial, which began in December 2023, has been ongoing for over a year. Lai faces charges of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and conspiracy to publish seditious material related to 161 op-eds carrying his byline. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment. Two prosecution witnesses accused Lai of financially backing an advocacy group that ran overseas newspaper ads supporting the 2019 protests. However, Lai has denied calling for sanctions against China and Hong Kong, stating he never advocated separatism.
The Hong Kong government strongly disapproved of and rejected “slanderous remarks” made by external forces regarding Lai’s case. Lai’s son, Sebastien, has called on the UK government to do more, saying, “I don’t want my father to die in jail.” As the trial enters its final stages, diplomats from several countries, including the US, have attended the hearing, underscoring the international community’s interest in the case.