Jimmy Lai defence tells Hong Kong court 'freedom of expression is not wrong'

A lawyer for Jimmy Lai has told a Hong Kong court "it is not wrong to support freedom of expression" as the prominent Hong Kong democracy activist and newspaper founder began his final defence in a landmark national security trial.

- Helen Davidson Hong Kong Free Press

Barrister Robert Pang is representing Lai in his fight against charges of colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security and conspiring with others to issue seditious publications. Lai, 77, faces up to life in prison if convicted under a national security law imposed by Beijing following anti-government protests in 2019.

"It is not wrong to support freedom of expression. It is not wrong to support human rights," Pang told the three-judge panel, which is expected to deliver a verdict later this year, once this round of final submissions concludes after about a week.

"It is not wrong to try to persuade the government to change its policy. Nor is it wrong not to love a particular administration or even the country, because... you can't force someone to think in one way or another," Pang added.

One of the judges, Esther Toh, said that this was not what the prosecution argued. "It's not wrong not to love the government, but if you do that by certain nefarious means, then it's wrong," she said.