Govt Slams Lai's Lawyers Over Reported Appeal To UK

The Hong Kong government on Wednesday condemned reports that Jimmy Lai's legal team have urged the UK authorities to intervene in the Apple Daily founder's national security law case.

That came in statement after the BBC reported seeing a letter from Lai's lawyers to UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak requesting an urgent meeting to discuss potential ways of securing Lai's release.

The British government confirmed that a junior foreign office minister responsible for Indo-Pacific matters, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, had a meeting with Lai's lawyers on Tuesday.

The statement issued early Wednesday morning said: "The HKSAR Government opposes and condemns these acts of the aforementioned purported 'international legal team' and the UK Government which attempted to undermine the rule of law of Hong Kong and interfere with the independent exercise of judicial power in Hong Kong."

It said that it's not true that the Hong Kong government is targeting specific individuals, including Lai.

The government also urged the relevant parties to stop interfering in Hong Kong's internal affairs, and respect the rule of law.

Lai is on trial on charges of colluding with foreign forces and sedition.

He has been in detention for more than two years, facing numerous charges.

The BBC reported that Lai's lawyers described the case against him as "deeply concerning" and "emblematic".