New Prison Sentence for Media Tycoon Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong

A new prison sentence has been issued for Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai on Friday for participating in a banned protest in 2019 during the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China. Lai, who is currently detained for participating in other protests, was sentenced to 14 months, increasing his total sentence to 20 months. Lai (73 years old) has angered Beijing several times due to his newspapers' support for the pro-democracy movement that organized large demonstrations in the former British colony in 2019. Hong Kong authorities announced in mid-May the freezing of his assets for violating the national security law in the city. New sentences were also issued for seven other figures in the pro-democracy movement, including Vigo Chan (25 years old) and former lawmakers Lee Chiu-yan and Leung Kwok-hung. These sentences are the latest actions in a successful and relentless campaign by China to suppress dissent and dismantle the democratic movement in Hong Kong. In 2019, Hong Kong witnessed massive pro-democracy protests that lasted for months and included violent incidents, marking the most severe challenge to Beijing's rule since it resumed control of the region in 1997. The clashes with the police on China's National Day were some of the worst during that period. However, despite the clashes throughout the city on that day, the march participated in by the activists who were sentenced on Friday remained largely peaceful. It was organized without police approval, which is a requirement for organizing gatherings in Hong Kong. District Judge Amanda Woodcock stated when issuing the sentences, "It was naive to think that a call for a peaceful and rational mass gathering would be enough to ensure that no violence would occur."