Hong Kong Jimmy Lai Granted Bail... Chinese Media Warns "Possible Central Government Intervention"

People's Daily Strongly Criticizes Hong Kong Court's Bail Decision

Jimmy Lai, the owner of the anti-China media outlet Apple Daily, who was charged with violating the Hong Kong National Security Law (Hong Kong Security Law) and fraud, is seen walking out of the High Court on the 23rd (local time) after being released on bail.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Four days after the Hong Kong court granted bail to Jimmy Lai, a prominent anti-China figure and owner of the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, China warned that it has sufficient legal grounds to exercise jurisdiction over the Hong Kong National Security Law (Hong Kong Security Law).

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 27th, the Chinese Communist Party's official newspaper, the People's Daily, published a commentary titled "Lai's bail has severely undermined Hong Kong's rule of law," urging the Hong Kong court to make the right decision and punish violators of the Hong Kong Security Law like Lai. The People's Daily pointed out, "If the (Hong Kong) judiciary fails to handle this case properly, Hong Kong's rule of law will suffer serious damage, and national security will be pushed into an extremely dangerous situation, resulting in tremendous negative effects."

In particular, the People's Daily cited "Article 55 of the Hong Kong Security Law," warning that the case could be transferred to mainland China for trial. According to the Security Law, China has the authority to intervene in complex cases within Hong Kong due to foreign or external interference. Since the Security Law was enacted in June, China has not yet applied this provision.

The People's Daily stated, "The bail conditions set by the court are unbelievable. (Lai) is a notorious and extremely dangerous figure," pointing out that Lai continued to request foreign governments to impose sanctions on Hong Kong even after the implementation of the Hong Kong Security Law, and that demands for his release by foreign politicians such as U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo demonstrate collusion with foreign forces.

Furthermore, it claimed, "There are calls from many Hong Kong citizens that the Hong Kong National Security Department can boldly intervene in this matter according to the law, and that there is sufficient legal basis for this," adding, "We expect the Hong Kong judiciary to make the correct choice."

The People's Daily commentary came four days after the Hong Kong court approved Lai's bail application. Earlier, Lai, the owner of the anti-China media Apple Daily, was charged with fraud on the 3rd and detained, and on the 11th, he was also charged with violating the Hong Kong Security Law. However, on the 23rd, the Hong Kong court approved Lai's bail application on the conditions of bail money and house arrest.

Meanwhile, as the Hong Kong prosecution seeks Lai's detention trial, Lai is scheduled to appear in court again on the 31st of this month for related hearings.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.