HONG KONG -- The marathon trial of Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai Chee-ying will soon enter its third year, as the court combs through articles and statements he made before and after China imposed a draconian national security law on the city in June 2020.
For many, the case against Lai, who stands accused of colluding with foreign forces and conspiring to publish seditious materials, symbolizes the erosion of freedoms the city had enjoyed. As the proceedings drag on, they spotlight the delicate position of the Hong Kong authorities, who are eager to align themselves with Chinese President Xi Jinping's vision of a "holistic approach to national security," but also want to mend fences with the West to boost the local economy.
