Media mogul Jimmy Lai, founder of Apple Daily, watches as he leaves the final court of appeal in a prison van in Hong Kong, China, on February 1, 2021. REUTERS / Tyrone Siu
The United States on Friday condemned the sentencing of Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai and other pro-democracy activists for what they called “politically motivated charges.”
“The Beijing and Hong Kong authorities are directed at Hong Kong to do nothing but exercise protected rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression,” the U.S. secretary of state said. , Antony Blinken, in a statement.
“Today’s rulings are another example of how (China) and the Hong Kong authorities undermine the protected rights and fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the basic law and the Sino-British joint declaration in an effort to eliminate all forms of dissent, “he added.
Our standards: the principles of trust of Thomson Reuters.