Top US officials speak out against the arrest and imprisonment of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Loy. The 73-year-old millionaire and pro-democracy lawyer was denied bail Saturday, this week on charges of violating the city’s new national security laws and collaborating with foreign powers. “Hong Kong’s national security law mocks justice. @ Jimmy Apple’s only ‘crime’ speaks to the dictatorship of the Communist Party of China and the truth about the fear of freedom,” Foreign Secretary Mike Pompeo tweeted Friday evening. “The charges should be dropped and he should be released immediately.” Vice President Mike Pence also tweeted in support of Loy. “Today’s accusations against JimmyLoyApp in Hong Kong are a disgrace to people who love freedom everywhere,” Pence wrote. “Jimmy Lai is a hero. I was impressed by his commitment to democracy and the guaranteed rights of the people of Hong Kong.” #FreeJimmyLai Vice President added in his message. Lai, the owner of the pro-Asi Daily pro-democracy Hong Kong newspaper, has long been a thorn in the side of the Chinese Communist Party, which took over the city in 1996 when it formally returned to China after 156 years of British rule. . Loy will appear in court on Saturday, according to his study. He was previously arrested in August on fraud charges related to the lease of a building run by Apple Daily. After a year of unrest and pro-democracy protests, China has actively moved to restrict free speech and expression in the city, including imposing a new security law in June. .
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