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HONG KONG (Reuters): Hong Kong democracy activist and media mogul Jimmy Lai has been charged under the city’s national security law on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces and endangering national security, media reported locals on Friday (December 11), citing unidentified sources.
Lai, a fervent critic of Beijing, would be the highest-profile person charged under the radical new law imposed on the Chinese-ruled city in June.
The law has been condemned by the West and human rights groups as a tool to crush dissent.
Authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing say it is vital to plug holes in national security defenses exposed by months of sometimes violent anti-government and anti-China protests that rocked the city over the past year.
Hong Kong police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Lai, 73, was denied bail earlier this month following his arrest on a separate count of fraud related to the leasing of a building that houses his Apple Daily, an anti-government tabloid.
Local media TVB and Cable TV said Lai had been charged with two crimes, while NOW TV said Lai’s charges stemmed from seeking sanctions against Hong Kong.
Lai had been a frequent visitor to Washington, where he met with officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to rally support for Hong Kong’s democracy, prompting Beijing to label him a “traitor.”
News of the charges comes as authorities intensify their crackdown on opposition forces that has led to the firing of lawmakers and the imprisonment of high-profile democratic activists like Joshua Wong.
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