One Media founder Lai Chi-ying was charged with fraud and “colluding with foreign powers to endanger national security” under the Hong Kong National Security Law. His lawyer applied to the Hong Kong High Court on Wednesday (23) for bail, which was granted by Judge Lee Yun-teng, one of the judges appointed under the National Security Law.
After the judge granted bail, the prosecution then expressed its intention to apply for an appeal to the Court of Final Appeal, applying for a certificate of appeal and invoking section 35 of the Court of Final Appeal Ordinance, asking the judge to order that Lai Chi-ying’s detention be maintained, but the judge refused to accept it after hearing the arguments, meaning that Lai could be released on bail to spend Christmas with his family.
However, Lai’s bail conditions are harsh, including a total of HK$10 million in cash and HK$300,000 in personnel bail, during which he must reside at his reported address, must surrender his travel documents, must not leave Hong Kong, and must report to the police station three times a week. He is not allowed to leave his residence except to report to the police station and to appear in court.
Lai is also not allowed to “engage in any request to a foreign country or foreign agency, organization or person to impose sanctions, blockade or take other hostile actions against Hong Kong or China,” i.e., he is not allowed to meet with foreign officials, give television, radio or online interviews, publish articles on paper or online, or even post messages on social media, including but not limited to Twitter.
Lai Chi-ying has been a scabbard since the 3rd of this month, two charges were postponed to April next year for retrial, but the judge earlier twice rejected his bail application, he also scabbard in Lai Chi Kok remand home, last Friday (18) more rarely transferred him to the high security Stanley Prison.
Under the principle of Hong Kong common law, Lai Chi-ying is still “innocent” before he is convicted, and it is rare for people who have been returned to scabbard to be sent to the high-security Stanley Prison at this stage, which is a matter of concern for the authorities.
Last Wednesday, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) issued a statement saying that it would put Lai Chi-ying on the Religious Prisoners of Conscience list and asked the Chinese side to release him.
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