Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai on trial in Hong Kong
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00:00 Thousands of police vans and armoured vehicles lined the roads as the trial of Jimmy Lai,
00:06 a well-known Hong Kong pro-democracy activist, began under heavy surveillance.
00:11 Authorities had warned in advance that any attempt to disrupt the trial would not be
00:16 tolerated.
00:17 But this warning was not enough to discourage supporters.
00:23 It's very sad that Jimmy and others, including my party members, have been locked up for
00:27 many, many, many months and years.
00:31 So I hope they will get, Jimmy and others, will get a fair, open and just hearing.
00:37 Jimmy Lai was incarcerated in 2020 after Beijing imposed a radical national security law to
00:44 make it easier to prosecute protesters.
00:46 He faces charges of colluding with foreign forces and could face life in prison if convicted.
00:53 Lai rose to prominence as a key figure in Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement after
00:58 he founded the anti-government Apple Daily newspaper, which closed in 2021.
01:03 I think everyone here should fight for universal suffrage.
01:11 We have the same goal and we should unite.
01:17 A severe critic of Beijing, he supported the major pro-democracy protests in 2019 before
01:23 being imprisoned one year later.
01:26 Beijing then tightened its grip on Hong Kong, arresting over 250 people in its determination
01:32 to silence dissenters.
01:34 Now Lai is to be tried without a jury by three judges appointed by the government.
01:41 The verdict is expected to be in early March.