Hong Kong taps Beijing in high-profile national security case

City moves to overturn ruling that lets Apple Daily's Jimmy Lai hire foreign lawyer

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee delivers a speech during an official reception marking Chinese National Day in October.

PAK YIU, Nikkei staff writer

November 28, 2022 22:03 JST

HONG KONG -- Hong Kong will seek Beijing's help to bar a foreign lawyer from defending media tycoon Jimmy Lai at his high-profile national security trial, the city's leader said Monday.

The announcement came hours after Hong Kong's top court upheld earlier rulings that allowed British lawyer Tim Owens to represent Lai, founder of shuttered pro-democracy tabloid Apple Daily, on charges that can carry a life sentence.