Hong Kong court rejects activist Jimmy Lai's request for jury trial in libel lawsuit

Photo : AFP

A Hong Kong court has denied the request by jailed publisher and activist Jimmy Lai to have a jury trial for his libel case against the pro-Beijing outlet *Ta Kung Pao*. This marks another legal setback for Lai, who has faced multiple challenges since his high-profile prosecution under Hong Kong's national security law.

Jimmy Lai, the 76-year-old founder of the now-defunct *Apple Daily*, has long been a prominent voice in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement. He has faced continuous criticism from pro-Beijing media, including *Ta Kung Pao*, which he sued in 2020 for libel. Lai alleged that the publication falsely suggested he was planning to illegally flee Hong Kong and breach his bail conditions.

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The article in question, published on June 25, 2020, was headlined "Leaders who create chaos in Hong Kong plotting escape, escape route exposed, charge one million dollars." It named Lai as one of the individuals allegedly plotting to escape the city to evade criminal prosecution. *Ta Kung Pao* denied any libelous intent in the article.

On Thursday, High Court Judge Queeny Au Yeung ruled against Lai’s request for a jury trial, stating that the case required an extensive review of documents and was unsuitable for a jury. In her judgment, she explained that the case was “plainly not suitable for putting only one or some questions to the jury, leaving the rest to the trial judge.”

Lai’s libel case is just one of several legal battles the activist has faced since Beijing imposed the sweeping national security law on Hong Kong in 2020. This law has led to the arrests and prosecutions of many of the city’s most prominent pro-democracy figures. Lai’s *Apple Daily* was shut down in 2021 following the arrests of its top executives, an event widely viewed as a blow to press freedom in Hong Kong.

In addition to the libel case, Lai is also embroiled in a landmark national security trial. He has been accused of colluding with foreign forces under the national security law, and last December, judges rejected his attempt to have a sedition charge dismissed. Additionally, the court upheld a decision to block Lai from hiring British lawyer Timothy Owen for his defense in the security case. Lai is set to testify in that trial next month.

Currently, Lai is serving a prison sentence of over five years after being convicted in a separate fraud case related to office lease violations. He has been in custody since December 2020.

Lai's case has drawn international attention, with both the U.S. and U.K. governments calling for his release and criticizing Hong Kong’s national security law. However, both the Hong Kong and Beijing governments have defended the law, arguing it is necessary to restore stability in the city following the 2019 pro-democracy protests.