(CNA reporter Cheung Kin, Hong Kong, 14th) — The national security case against Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai, in which he is accused of colluding with foreign forces, was originally scheduled for closing arguments by the prosecution and defense in court starting today. However, due to heavy rain in Hong Kong, the Judiciary cancelled all hearings, including Lai’s case, and postponed them in their entirety.

Since early this morning, Hong Kong has been hit by continuous heavy rain. The Observatory issued the highest-level Black Rainstorm Warning, and the Judiciary accordingly cancelled all scheduled hearings for the day. It is understood that closing arguments in Lai’s case—the final submissions by both sides—will be postponed until tomorrow.

The case is being heard by the Court of First Instance of the High Court, which had originally planned to borrow a courtroom at the Wan Chai District Court for today’s session.

Lai is charged with two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign or overseas forces to endanger national security and one count of conspiracy to publish seditious publications. The trial began in December 2023 before designated national security judges Esther Toh Lye-ping, Alex Lee Wan-tang, and Susana Maria D’Almada Remedios.

The prosecution completed its evidence on June 11, 2024, the 90th day of the trial, after which the three judges ruled there was a prima facie case on all charges. Lai then chose to testify in his own defense, taking the stand for 52 days. Both sides had been scheduled to begin oral closing arguments today, with proceedings expected to last eight days.

In addition to Lai, three related Apple Daily companies—Apple Daily Limited, Apple Daily Printing Limited, and Apple Daily Internet Limited—also face charges of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces. They did not call any witnesses during the trial.

Over more than 100 days of hearings, Lai has denied one count of conspiracy to print and publish seditious publications and two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security. The three related Apple Daily companies have denied one count of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of conspiracy to publish seditious publications.

The United States and Europe have closely followed Lai’s case, strongly calling on Hong Kong authorities to release him. In June, the European Parliament passed a resolution urging Lai’s immediate release and the repeal of Hong Kong’s national security law, which it said has been used to target Lai and other pro-democracy figures.