Unlock Editor’s Digest Lock for Free
Jimmy Ly’s son accused Kiel Starmer of showing “deterioration” against China in the face of continuing detention of former Hong Kong media tycoons and British citizens.
Sebastien Lai told the Financial Times that the health of his 77-year-old father, first arrested in Hong Kong in 2020, was rapidly deteriorating and was called in order of priority to meet his family ahead of this month’s G7 Summit.
“It’s urgent. I honestly don’t know how long my dad has,” said Lai, urging the British government to do more to secure his release.
“If they can’t drive my father out, if they can’t let it know that he’s standing behind what he was standing, then it’s a real weakness show,” he said.
“We are demanding that we meet with the Prime Minister, Kiel Starmer,” he added. Lye hopes to raise his father’s continued prisoners of war to build pressure on China at Canada’s upcoming G7 summit, ensuring that Britain will continue to push Beijing itself.
Jimmy Ly, one of Hong Kong’s most prominent democratic champions who ran the Apple Daily newspaper, was arrested by authorities in 2019 after protests over increased control of North British colonies.
Hong Kong has its own government and its legal system separate from the mainland government. But Beijing has held its city in grip, imposing national security laws and robbed authorities of power to target widely defined crimes of withdrawal, subversion, terrorism and conspiracy with foreign forces.
China portrayed Lai, who was arrested under the controversial national security law as an instigator of democratic protests. He was charged in Hong Kong with “conspiracy to conspiracy with foreign forces” and publishing “inflammatory” materials.
Lai’s family said he is a newspaper publisher who believes in democracy and should help the British government fight for his release as a Hong Konger and British citizen.
They say that Rai is subject to “inhuman” treatment due to solitary confinement and is not given access to a specialized doctor because of diabetes.
Hong Kong’s Correctional Services division said the allegations were “completely unfounded and inconsistent with established facts.”
Jimmy Ly’s Biography
Commuters with Apple Daily copy in 2020 © Isaac Lawrence/AFP/Getty Images
1947 – Born in Guangdong Province
1960 – Leave mainland China in Hong Kong
1981 – Founded the fashion retail chain Giordano. He was later forced to sell his stock under pressure from Beijing
1995 – Apple Daily released
2020 – Arrested under National Security Act imposed by Beijing
2021 – Apple Daily has been forced to close
LAI’s medical condition was handled in the same way as other inmates, providing access to specialized medical care when necessary, and LAI was confined to solitary confinement at his own request, the department said. He also pointed out a statement in September from Lai’s Hong Kong-based legal team that he was receiving appropriate medical care.
Last year, British Foreign Secretary David Lamey met Lai’s family and was responsibly responsibly from Beijing.
The priority government has been calling for better ties with Beijing since it took office last July last July to promote trade with China, despite its still harboring concerns about national security and human rights.
More than 150,000 Hong Kong citizens have moved to the UK since 2021 under the UK (overseas) visa route opened in response to China’s national security law imposition.
Sebastien Lai says the UK needs to stand up for its belief, dismissing the idea that pushing his father’s release more strongly would undermine trade ties with China as “completely laughing.”
“The premise is China’s trade with us because of their good hearts. Even they tell us that it’s not true. No one in the Chinese Communist Party will be surprised that Britain will stand up to democracy,” Lai said.
Recommended
Rachel Blake, a Labour MP for the London and Westminster cities where LAIS owns a home, is supporting the family and has requested in order of priorities to meet them.
Downing Street said Jimmy Ly’s case was a “priority for the UK government” and “continue to appeal to Hong Kong authorities to end politically motivated prosecutors and to release Jimmy Ly soon.”
Rye’s son said his father’s case was a “test case” for the UK. “Our government is putting weight behind my father’s back is a great opportunity to show what they mean,” he said.
“If my father dies in prison, it’s not going to change what he is standing. But for our country, for the UK, that’s a shame for us.”
