RFA….
Pro-democracy media magnate Jimmy Lai will plead not guilty to ‘colluding with foreign forces’ under Hong Kong’s draconian national security law, court documents revealed on Monday, as a U.S.-based rights group called on the government to drop charges against 47 former lawmakers and activists for “subversion.”
Lai’s plea was revealed at a case management hearing in Hong Kong on Monday. Six other former staff members — former senior editors and columnists at his now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper — said they would plead guilty.
Lai’s trial will have no jury, and will be held instead before a panel of three national security judges vetted by the government.
Lai appeared in court on Monday, appearing relaxed in a blue suit, waving and smiling to friends and relatives in the public gallery, and talking from time to time with his daughter, guarded by three prison guards at all times.
Meanwhile, veteran democracy activist and former organizer of the now-banned candlelight vigils for the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen massacre Albert Ho was released on bail after a year behind bars.
Ho, 70, recently also completed four “illegal assembly” sentences handed down in connection with June 4th memorial activities in 2020.
He is still awaiting trial for “incitement to subvert state power” under the national security law, and was bailed for H.K.$700,000 and a H.K.$400,000 surety.
Ho is required to report to his local police station three times a week, and could be redetained at any time on remand, and is barred from making comments deemed harmful to “national security” on any platform.
Read more https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/hongkong-sentences-08222022151855.html
