A British activist has been handed a two-decades jail sentence in Hong Kong – despite pleas from Sir Keir Starmer.
Pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai was sentenced after being convicted of “national security offences” in the former British Crown Colony.
He was found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of publishing seditious materials in December last year.
The 78-year-old was arrested in August 2020 and denied all the charges levelled against him.
His lawyer gave no comment on whether Mr Lai would appeal his sentence.
The campaigner founded the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily and had previously been sentenced for several lesser offences.
Sir Keir discussed the case with Chinese leader Xi Jinping last month on a visit to Beijing.
The Prime Minister later told Parliament: “I raised the case of Jimmy Lai and called for his release.
Pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai was sentenced after being convicted of ‘national security offences’ in Hong Kong
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Sebastian Lai, son of Jimmy Lai, has been campaigning for his release
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“Those discussions will continue, and the Foreign Secretary is in touch with Mr Lai’s family.”
Britain’s national security advisor, Jonathan Powell, and China’s foreign minister Wang Yi, were also in attendance for the talks.
Several diplomats told Reuters that negotiations to free Lai would start in earnest after the sentencing.
Sir Keir is not the only world leader to make pleas for Mr Lai’s freedom – with US President Donald Trump asking President Xi to “consider his release”.
Keir Starmer raised the case of Jimmy Lai in meetings during his visit to China
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Mr Trump said: “He’s an older man and he’s not well. So I did put that request out.”
Sentencing, judges in Hong Kong said the pro-democracy activist’s offences were of a “grave nature”.
It described his so-called conspiracies as “most serious” and that his foreign collusion was “well planned” and “premeditated.
The Hong Kong Courts said it would not give Mr Lai any deduction for his diabetes.
Sir Keir Starmer said discussions over Jimmy Lai’s future would continue after talks with Xi Jinping
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PAHis family members have expressed concern for his medical condition while being held in jail.
His son, Sebastian, told GB News: “His health is worsening, he has diabetes, heart problems, and his body is physically deteriorating after prolonged solitary.
“He’s been there 1,800 days, losing weight, nails, teeth – it’s heartbreaking.”
Mr Lai founded his newspaper ahead of Britain’s 1997 handover of Hong Kong to China to promote freedom of speech.
The paper did not shy away from criticising Beijing.
He became a full British citizen in 1994, and has never held a Chinese or Hong Kong passport.
