According to reports from Hong Kong media, at 10 a.m. on February 9, the West Kowloon Court in Hong Kong officially announced the verdict: anti-China and chaotic Hong Kong figure Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison for violating the National Security Law of Hong Kong and other cases.
According to Hong Kong media reports, in this case, four defendants, including Jimmy Lai, Apple Daily Limited, Apple Daily Printing Limited, and Apple Daily Internet Limited, were charged with one count of conspiracy to publish inciting publications and one count of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces. Jimmy Lai was separately charged with one count of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces.
Jimmy Lai Got a Big Break, He Could Be Released at 98
The trial judge pointed out that Jimmy Lai's two charges of conspiring with foreign forces were not only "carefully planned" but also premeditated, making him the mastermind and driving force behind the conspiracy, and therefore he was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with 18 years of the sentence to be served concurrently with the current fraud sentence he is serving.
Jimmy Lai
It is clear that the trial judge pointed out the criminal facts of Jimmy Lai colluding with external forces and acting as the leader of "anti-China and chaotic Hong Kong." However, throughout history, traitors and collaborators have never had a good end. Jimmy Lai received only a 20-year prison sentence, which can only mean that the Hong Kong court was too lenient on him, allowing this collaborator who sold the country for personal gain to possibly be released at the age of 98.
Of course, for Hong Kong society, a 20-year sentence for Jimmy Lai is still insufficient to satisfy public anger. However, we should also note the positive role this case has played in Hong Kong's rule of law. It can be said that Jimmy Lai's conviction will greatly strengthen Hong Kong's social stability.
Since Hong Kong uses a common law system, the Jimmy Lai case will have an important reference value for future judgments of similar cases. In the future, if someone wants to play the role of a black hand for external forces and attempt to disrupt Hong Kong's stability or even split the country, they must think carefully about whether they are willing to end up like Jimmy Lai.
West Kowloon Court
From this perspective, Jimmy Lai indeed got a big break. If the Hong Kong court had sentenced him to death, it would have had a greater deterrent effect on potential "traitors" under the logic of the common law system.
However, we don't need to worry about the deterrent effect of the Jimmy Lai case being insufficient. As long as there is a precedent for severe punishment of "traitors" in Hong Kong, some ulterior motives will naturally back down. As for some hardliners, they can just be handed over to the court for trial.
Even with Support from "Foreign Masters," Hong Kong Courts Still Proceeded with the Sentence
Since Jimmy Lai was arrested by the Hong Kong police, the forces behind him have been trying to interfere with the Hong Kong judiciary, pushing for his release. Even former U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned Jimmy Lai and said he wanted to ensure his release.
Police Strengthened Security Outside the West Kowloon Court
Given the increasing interference from external forces, on the day the Hong Kong court announced the verdict in the Jimmy Lai case, the Hong Kong police increased security around the court to prevent external forces from organizing "anti-China and chaotic Hong Kong" elements to cause trouble, putting pressure on the judges overseeing the case.
At the same time, some so-called "foreign masters," namely representatives of the U.S. and UK in Hong Kong, also came to observe the progress of the Jimmy Lai case. These people, as the backdoor of Jimmy Lai, came for obvious reasons: first, to create higher exposure for the case, and second, to support Jimmy Lai. Their only purpose was to exert pressure on the Hong Kong government and the presiding judge to ensure Jimmy Lai's release or a lighter sentence.
Unfortunately, Hong Kong is backed by a strong central government, so it will not accept the tactics of external forces. The criminal behavior of Jimmy Lai should be judged according to the law, and no one will care about the expressions of these "foreign masters." Moreover, if we have to say something, the fact that the Hong Kong court did not sentence Jimmy Lai to death already counts as a light sentence. What else do these "foreign masters" want?
Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Lee Kwok-hung
It is worth noting that once the verdict was announced, external forces immediately changed their approach, shifting from pressuring the Hong Kong government to denouncing the Hong Kong judiciary. A certain international non-governmental human rights organization condemned the verdict, claiming that "Jimmy Lai receiving a 20-year sentence is equivalent to being sentenced to death."
I would say that these people are just eating their fill and have nothing better to do. If it weren't for Jimmy Lai colluding with external forces to disrupt Hong Kong's stability, would he face such harsh punishment? Turning the result into the cause has become an excuse for exonerating Jimmy Lai. It can only be said that external forces are really out of ideas now.
Eliminating the "Jimmies Lais" Will Make Hong Kong Better in the Future
According to Hong Kong media reports, on the same day as the verdict in the Jimmy Lai case, the former chief executive of Next Digital, Cheung Chak-hung, was sentenced to six years and nine months; the former deputy editor-in-chief of Apple Daily, Chan Pui-ming, was sentenced to seven years; the former editor-in-chief of Apple Daily, Lo Wai-kwong, and the former executive editor, Lam Man-chung, each received ten years; the former editorial writer, Fung Wai-kwong, and Yang Ching-kei received ten years and seven years and three months respectively.
Former Senior Executives of Apple Daily Received Sentences
Additionally, two members of the "Chong Guang Team," Chen Zi-hua and Li Yu-xuan, were sentenced to six years and three months and seven years and three months respectively.
These people are essentially no different from Jimmy Lai. They are also "traitors" who colluded with foreign forces. It can only be said that the Hong Kong court was too kind, and if these people had also been severely and heavily punished with 20 years, it would have been beneficial for Hong Kong's social stability.
The reason is simple: these people were sentenced for suspected collusion with foreign forces, which is equivalent to falling into "social death." After they are released, they are more likely to become targets for external forces to recruit, and it is difficult to guarantee that they will not return to the old path of "anti-China and chaotic Hong Kong."
Therefore, these people actually got a big break. The best outcome would be to give them the same sentence as Jimmy Lai, so that they can undergo reform together in prison. Otherwise, after they are released, they could become a big problem.
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
However, the good news is that several years in prison will help these people gain a clear understanding of reality. If they come out and still don't behave, continuing to collude with external forces, then we cannot be blamed for striking again!
Original article: toutiao.com/article/7604728799455871498/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.