Getty Images Jimmy Lai, Apple Daily creator, getshere at the Court of Final Appeal ahead a bail hearing on February 9, 2021 Jimmy Lai, one of Hong Kong’s most prominent pro-democracy figures, has affirmed in court for the veryfirst time in a nationwide security trial that might see him sentenced to life in prison. The 76-year-old creator of the now-defunct Hong Kong tabloid Apple Daily hasactually been implicated of conspiring with foreign forces. But Lai informed the court on Wednesday that he had “never” utilized his foreign contacts, which consistof ex-US VP Mike Pence and previous Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen, to impact foreign policy on Hong Kong. Lai is currently serving jail sentences for a variety of offenses for his declared function in pro-democracy demonstrations in 2019, which led to China enforcing a sweeping nationwide security law (NSL) in the city. His hearing comes one day after the sentencing of 45 pro-democracy advocates – part of a group understood as the Hong Kong47 Sporting a brown coat and glasses, Lai smiled and waved to his household and the public as he wentinto the courtroom, looking in great spirits, though he appeared to have lost weight giventhat his arrest numerous years earlier. Outside the court, lots of individuals waited in line to program their assistance for the media magnate. A comparable crowd had collected on Tuesday for the sentencing of the Hong Kong 47, which consistedof some of the mostsignificant names in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy motion, like Benny Tai and Joshua Wong. When asked if he had attempted to impact foreign policy on Hong Kong through his list of abroad contacts – which consistof the likes of
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