The move comes at a moment of heightened sensitivity for the financial hub, following a deadly fire that stoked social discontent and prompted the government to crack down on speech critical of its handling of the disaster.
Lai, the 78-year-old founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily, faces life in prison if convicted of conspiring to collude with foreign forces in the wake of pro-democracy protests in 2019. During the marathon trial, which wrapped up in August, prosecutors depicted Lai as the “helmsman” of a plot to incite sanctions against China. He denied all charges.
Western governments and leaders including US President Donald Trump have called for Lai’s release. Beijing and Hong Kong authorities have rejected any attempts to interfere with the case.
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