Son of Hong Kong activist urges Trump to talk with Xi

The son of British media tycoon Jimmy Lai has thanked Donald Trump for promising to raise the matter of his father's incarceration when he meets Chinese president Xi Jinping tomorrow.

- ALISHA RAHAMAN SARKAR

Mr Lai, the 77-year-old founder of the now-shuttered newspaper Apple Daily, is awaiting a verdict on charges of sedition and collusion with foreign powers under Hong Kong's draconian national security law. The ailing pro-democracy activist has pleaded not guilty, but faces the prospect of life in prison if convicted.

Mr Trump is due to meet Xi in South Korea on the sidelines of a regional summit, and has said Mr Lai's case is “on my list” to discuss alongside matters such as trade tariffs and Russia's war on Ukraine.

Responding to Mr Trump's remarks, Mr Lai's son Sebastien told The Independent: “I am very grateful to President Trump for his commitment to saving my father's life. We hope that he convinces President Xi to free my father.”

The issue of Jimmy Lai's case was brought to Mr Trump's attention in a joint letter penned by Republican senator Rick Scott and signed by more than 30 US lawmakers, urging the president to intervene due to Mr Lai's deteriorating health.

“The humanitarian case for Mr Lai's release is stronger and more dire than ever, which is why this must be addressed at the highest possible level,” the lawmakers wrote.

While departing for his five-day Asia tour this week, Mr Trump told reporters: “I have a lot of respect for Rick Scott and a lot of them that are asking me to do that [raise Mr Lai's case], and it's on my list. I'm going to ask.