Hong Kong Police said that Jimmy Lai, a renowned Hong Kong media tycoon, was charged under a national security law. There was also a crackdown on three high profile activists who were protesting for democratic rights.

Police said that Jimmy Lai was charged on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces and endangering national security. He has been a known supporter of the city’s fledgling democratic movement. He has also been critical of Mainland China.

The national security law is a controversial law that was introduced in Hong Kong in June by Beijing. Under this law, colluding with foreign powers   or forces carries life imprisonment as its maximum penalty.

In August 2020, Lai had been arrested. His media house Apple Daily had been raided by 200 officers. They seized many boxes of documents and also arrested a few media staff. At that time, speaking from his home, he had told CNN that his arrest was a “symbolic exercise” as the local authorities wished to show that the sweeping national security law, which was imposed by Beijing, had “teeth.”

He was denied bail earlier this month on a separate charge of fraud. Some revere him for pro-democracy views while others consider him to be an agent for the U.S.

Source CNN World

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