'Granting Jimmy Lai Bail Severely Hurts Rule Of Law'

An article in the official People's Daily newspaper has criticised the High Court for granting Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai bail, saying that has drastically hurt the city's rule of law.

The paper described Lai as a "serious offender" of the national security law, and questioned who would shoulder responsibility if he absconded or "continued to wreck Hong Kong".

The article added that Lai is an "extremely dangerous" person, and it is "beyond imagination" that he was released on bail.

It stressed that under the law, a judge should not grant bail unless he or she has very good reason to believe that the suspect won't continue endangering national security.

The newspaper also questioned whether Lai should be transferred into the central government’s jurisdiction, saying many of the media tycoon's past actions, such as publicly calling on overseas governments to sanction Hong Kong, warrant mainland intervention.

The High Court released the pro-democracy tycoon last Wednesday on a HK$10 million bail, under strict conditions which include a ban on leaving his home, giving interviews, meeting foreign officials or using social media.

Government prosecutors have reportedly filed for an appeal over his bail to the city's top court, and sources say the Court of Final Appeal is slated to hold a hearing on Thursday morning.

Lai is charged under the national security law with colluding with foreign powers, and faces a separate fraud charge in relation to his business use of Next Digital's headquarters in Tseung Kwan O.