Jimmy Lai Charged With National Security Offence

Pro-democracy activist and media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been charged under the national security law with colluding with foreign forces.

In a brief statement, police said the 73-year-old would be brought before West Kowloon Court on Saturday morning.

Lai is the fourth person and the most-high profile so far to be charged under the national security law which Beijing imposed on Hong Kong at the end of June.

The tycoon is already behind bars after he was denied bail earlier this month after being charged with fraud in relation to the lease of Next Digital's headquarters in Tseung Kwan O.

"The goal is to hold Jimmy Lai, and shut Jimmy Lai up," Mark Simon, an associate of Lai, told the Reuters news agency.

Article 29 of the national security law sets out how collusion offences of a grave nature can lead to life imprisonment.

The first person charged under the national security law was Tong Ying-kit, 23, who allegedly drove a motorbike into police while flying a pro-independence flag on July 1. He is accused of terrorism and secession.

The second person was Tony Chung, 19, who was charged with secession for comments he allegedly made on social media, and the third was food delivery driver Ma Chun-man, 30, who is accused of inciting secession by shouting pro-democracy slogans.