Fans of free speech, look away now. Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai is going on trial. His crime? Upsetting the Chinese government. Chances of swerving jail? Not great.

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Landmark Jimmy Lai trial begins in Hong Kong

The trial of Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai began today. It’s one of the most high-profile prosecutions in the government’s crackdown on opposition groups.

Lai is a pro-democracy activist and businessman. He founded the clothing retailer Giordano and Next Digital, a now defunct media company that published the popular Apple Daily newspaper.

Lai is accused of conspiring to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security. He’s being prosecuted under a broad national security law that was imposed by Beijing in June 2020, in response to the previous year’s mass pro-democracy protests. If found guilty, Lai could face life in prison. The trial has been condemned by the US and UK governments.

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