August 2, 2024

Ming Pao Special Report: The UK government recently revealed in a written parliamentary inquiry that Foreign Secretary David Lammy, during his first meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the ASEAN summit last week, mentioned the national security case of Jimmy Lai, the founder of Next Media. Lammy called on Hong Kong authorities to stop politically motivated prosecutions and to immediately release Jimmy Lai.

A spokesperson for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region emphasized that any interference in the judicial proceedings of the Special Administrative Region will not be tolerated in any form. They also mentioned that the legal proceedings involving Jimmy Lai are still ongoing, and it is inappropriate for anyone to comment on the case. The Hong Kong government’s response did not specifically name the UK or David Lammy.

This marks the first disclosure by the UK Labour government of discussions with China regarding Lai’s case since taking office. In their response to the written parliamentary inquiry, the UK described Lai as a British National. The response came from Jenny Chapman, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office responsible for Latin American affairs, rather than Catherine West, who handles matters related to China.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government stated that all cases, including Jimmy Lai’s case, are strictly processed according to the evidence and in accordance with the law. The spokesperson continued, stating that advocating for certain individuals or organizations to be exempt from legal sanctions for illegal activities is tantamount to granting them a license to break the law, which is completely contrary to the spirit of the rule of law.

Additionally, in response to another written inquiry, the UK government stated that it will not tolerate any attempts by the Hong Kong or Beijing authorities, or any country, to harass or silence people in the UK. The UK will continue to assess potential threats to the UK and proactively address threats directed by national authorities.