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Chinese president Xi Jinping has expressed strong support for the jailing of British media tycoon Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong, amid mounting international condemnation.
Xi’s first reaction to Monday’s verdict comes just weeks before Sir Keir Starmer is due to travel to Beijing for an important trade visit.
Lai’s trial was closely watched abroad and his conviction has been met with intense criticism by Western governments and rights groups who called it “politically motivated” and “a disgraceful act of persecution”.
The British government summoned China’s ambassador to lodge a protest, while US president Donald Trump expressing sorrow after saying he had spoke to the Chinese leader about the case.
The fact Mr Xi has now given Lai’s conviction his personal endorsement is likely to be a thorny issue during Mr Starmer’s meetings with him next month. There is huge pressure on the UK prime minister to demand the 78-year-old British national’s release.
Lai, founder of the now-shuttered newspaper Apple Daily, is set to be sentenced later in January, coinciding with the prime minister’s visit to Beijing between 29 and 31 January.
Lai’s conviction marks the culmination of a five-year legal saga for the 78-year-old pro-democracy campaigner and media mogul who was found guilty of colluding with foreign forces under Hong Kong’s national security law.
“President Xi heard about what we did, and he affirmed his strong recognition of our efforts,” said the leader of Hong Kong John Lee. “He also confirmed his strong support for both the government and the judiciary to uphold the duty to protect national security.”
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Chinese president Xi Jinping, right, talks to Hong Kong’s chief executive John Lee in Beijing (Xinhua News Agency)
The state-run Xinhua News Agency also reported Xi’s reaction to Lai’s conviction, quoting the president as telling Mr Lee: “The government has resolutely safeguarded national sovereignty, security, and development interests.”
Mr Lee claimed that some foreign media outlets had “misled” the public in their reporting of the Lai conviction.
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Jimmy Lai is led into a police van as he heads to court in Hong Kong (AFP via Getty)
The annual meeting between Mr Lee and Xi came in a year that saw Hong Kong suffer the worst fire in decades at a housing complex on 26 November, killing 160 people and sparking angry public reactions.
Mr Lee said he briefed Xi about the handling of the Tai Po fire and promised to pursue accountability via an independent judge-led review committee.
“The serious fire in Tai Po is heartbreaking. I express my deep mourning to the deceased and the firefighter who died on duty, and extend condolences to the families of the victims and those affected,” Xi reportedly said.
