Hong Kong publisher’s national security trial postponed
December 1, 2022 GMTHONG KONG (AP) — The trial of a Hong Kong newspaper publisher who was arrested in a crackdown on the city's pro-democracy movement was postponed Thursday after the territory's leader asked China to effectively block him from hiring a British defense lawyer.
Hong Kong publisher Lai faces Security Law in delayed trial
December 1, 2022 GMTHONG KONG (AP) — Jimmy Lai broke into Hong Kong's rambunctious media world 30 years ago armed with the belief that delivering information equates with protecting freedom.
Lai's own freedom is at stake as he fights charges of endangering national security as former publisher of his now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily.
Hong Kong asks Beijing to step in into row over UK lawyer
November 28, 2022 GMTHONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong's leader said on Monday he will ask Beijing to rule whether to let foreign lawyers be involved in national security cases after the city's top court allowed a prominent pro-democracy publisher to hire a British lawyer for his upcoming trial.
Hong Kong court lets UK lawyer defend media tycoon Jimmy Lai
November 9, 2022 GMTHONG KONG (AP) — A Hong Kong court on Wednesday upheld the decision to let a veteran British lawyer defend pro-democracy newspaper publisher Jimmy Lai at his upcoming national security trial.
Pro-democracy publisher Lai found guilty on fraud charges
October 25, 2022 GMTHONG KONG (AP) — Pro-democracy Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai was found guilty Tuesday on two fraud charges related to lease violations, the latest in a series of prosecutions apparently aimed at punishing him for his past activism.
Media mogul Jimmy Lai appeals to UN over Hong Kong cases
April 11, 2022 GMTHONG KONG (AP) — Lawyers for Hong Kong media mogul and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai are asking the United Nations to investigate his imprisonment and multiple criminal charges as “legal harassment” that punish him for speaking out.
Hong Kong pro-democracy news site closes after raid, arrests
December 29, 2021 GMTHONG KONG (AP) — A vocal pro-democracy website in Hong Kong shut down Wednesday after police raided its office and arrested seven current and former editors, board members and a journalist in a continuing crackdown on dissent in the semi-autonomous Chinese city.
Hong Kong tycoon given 13 months jail for Tiananmen vigil
December 13, 2021 GMTHONG KONG (AP) — A Hong Kong court on Monday sentenced activist and business tycoon Jimmy Lai to 13 months in jail for urging participation in last year’s banned Tiananmen vigil, amid a crackdown by Chinese authorities that has rolled back the semi-autonomous city's civil liberties.
Hong Kong tycoon, two others convicted over Tiananmen vigil
December 9, 2021 GMTHONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong tycoon and prominent pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai and two others were convicted Thursday for their roles in last year’s banned Tiananmen candlelight vigil, amid a crackdown on dissent in the city and Beijing’s tightening political control.
8 Hong Kong activists on trial over banned Tiananmen vigil
November 1, 2021 GMTHONG KONG (AP) — A trial began Monday for Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai and seven other pro-democracy activists charged over their roles in an unauthorized Tiananmen vigil last year, amid a crackdown on political dissent in Hong Kong.
Report: 2 Hong Kongers plead guilty to foreign collusion
August 19, 2021 GMTHONG KONG (AP) — Two Hong Kongers pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiring to collude with foreign forces as well as Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai to endanger national security, local media reported.
Pro-democracy, women’s rights activists to get Liberty Medal
July 20, 2021 GMTPHILADELPHIA (AP) — A Hong Kong pro-democracy activist and a Saudi women's rights activist will be presented the Liberty Medal later this year.
The National Constitution Center announced Tuesday that the annual award will be presented Sept.
Hong Kong’s last pro-democracy paper publishes final edition
June 23, 2021 GMTHONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong’s sole remaining pro-democracy newspaper published its last edition Thursday after five editors and executives were arrested and millions of dollars in its assets were frozen as part of China's increasing crackdown on dissent in the semi-autonomous city.
Hong Kong democracy activist Agnes Chow released from jail
June 12, 2021 GMTHONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Agnes Chow was released from jail Saturday after serving more than six months for taking part in unauthorized assemblies during massive 2019 anti-government protests that triggered a crackdown on dissent in the former British colony.
Hong Kong tycoon gets 14-month jail term over 2019 protest
May 28, 2021 GMTHONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong media tycoon and outspoken pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai was sentenced to more jail time Friday over his role in an anti-government protest in 2019, as authorities step up a crackdown on dissent in the city.
Lam defends freezing of publisher’s assets as safety measure
May 18, 2021 GMTHONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam on Tuesday defended the freezing of pro-democracy publisher Jimmy Lai's assets as a necessary move under the city's new national security law to protect the safety of all Chinese people.
Next Digital trading halted after Jimmy Lai’s assets frozen
May 17, 2021 GMTHONG KONG (AP) — The Hong Kong stock exchange halted trading of Next Digital shares Monday at the media company's request after authorities froze assets belonging to its founder, Jimmy Lai, who has been a high-profile voice in the the territory's pro-democracy movement.
Taiwan Apple Daily to end print edition next week
May 14, 2021 GMTTAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — The media company of tycoon Jimmy Lai, a prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy advocate, said Friday its Taiwan Apple Daily newspaper will stop publishing a print edition next week, adding to economic fallout from conflict over Beijing's tighter control of the southern Chinese city.
Hong Kong democracy leaders given jail terms amid crackdown
April 17, 2021 GMTHONG KONG (AP) — A Hong Kong court on Friday sentenced five leading pro-democracy advocates, including media tycoon Jimmy Lai, to up to 18 months in prison for organizing and participating in a massive march during 2019 anti-government protests that triggered an overwhelming crackdown from Beijing...
Hong Kong activists plead guilty to joining democracy rally
April 8, 2021 GMTHONG KONG (AP) — Three veteran Hong Kong pro-democracy activists, including well-known publisher Jimmy Lai, pleaded guilty Wednesday to taking part in an unauthorized rally in 2019 that led to violence between police and participants...
7 Hong Kong democracy leaders convicted as China clamps down
April 1, 2021 GMTHONG KONG (AP) — Seven of Hong Kong's leading pro-democracy advocates, including a media tycoon and an 82-year-old veteran of the movement, were convicted Thursday for organizing and participating in a march during massive anti-government protests in 2019 that triggered a crackdown on dissent...
2 plead guilty as leading Hong Kong activists go on trial
February 16, 2021 GMTHONG KONG (AP) — Two former Hong Kong lawmakers pleaded guilty to illegal assembly charges Tuesday, as a trial opened for them and seven other prominent democracy activists in what is seen as a crackdown on dissent in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory...
Hong Kong’s new top judge urges impartiality in courts
January 11, 2021 GMTHONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong’s new top judge warned Monday that the semi-autonomous Chinese territory’s courts need to show they are impartial amid a flurry of politically charged cases or risk losing public trust...
Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai jailed after bail revoked
December 31, 2020 GMTHONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong's highest court on Thursday revoked media tycoon Jimmy Lai's bail after prosecutors succeeded in asking the judges to send him back to detention...
Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai denied bail as Pompeo tweets support
December 12, 2020 GMTHONG KONG (AP) — Jimmy Lai, the 73-year-old Hong Kong media tycoon and advocate for democracy, was denied bail Saturday after being charged the previous day under the semi-autonomous Chinese territory's new national security law...