Jimmy Lai, in the center, leaves the High Court after receiving bail in Hong Kong on December 23.
Photographer: Roy Liu / Bloomberg
Photographer: Roy Liu / Bloomberg
The decision by the Hong Kong Supreme Court to grant bail to media magnate Jimmy Lai is “unbelievable”, according to one comment in the Communist Party of China spokesman, who warned that there are legal grounds for the case to be transferred to the continent.
People’s Daily called the founder of Next Digital Ltd., 73, “notorious and extremely dangerous”. Prosecutors accused Lai earlier this month according to a broad national security law imposed by Beijing in June, saying he conspired with foreigners calling for sanctions against China.
A judge previously denied bail, giving the prosecution more time to review media interviews and about 1,000 tweets for more evidence. The Hong Kong Supreme Court subsequently granted Lai HK $ 10 million (US $ 1.3 million) bail on December 23, with the proviso that he stay at his home and avoid giving interviews or posting on social media. He also had to hand over his travel documents.
It’s not hard for Lai to lose his bail and run, the People’s Daily he said, citing his wealth and “motives” from foreign forces.
Hong Kong’s courts are the ultimate control over Beijing’s growth power
Lai’s arrest and a dramatic police raid in the newsroom of his pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily in August sparked protests from foreign governments, including the United Kingdom, who said the new security law was being used to crack down on press freedom in former British colony.
There are complete legal bases for China to invoke Article 55 of the National Security Law, the newspaper said. Article 55 states that China can “exercise jurisdiction over a case concerning a crime that endangers national security” if the case is complex due to the involvement of a foreign country or external elements, or if a serious situation occurs in which the Hong Kong government cannot effectively enforce the law.
If Lai’s case cannot be dealt with under the law, it will cause a major shock to the rule of law in Hong Kong and put national security in an extremely dangerous situation, according to the comment.
The threat expressed in the editorial will raise concerns about China’s control over Hong Kong. As the first trials of the security law prepare to begin, Hong Kong’s independent judiciary is emerging as the ultimate control over Beijing’s power. So far, Hong Kong judges have continued to demonstrate their independence, but in a clear break with the past, Beijing is now also evaluating the decisions of the Hong Kong courts, praising satisfactory decisions and using friendly media to criticize the others.
– With the help of John Liu and Jessica Sui