Jimmy Lai's son urges David Cameron to demand media mogul's release: 'Stand by my father'

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The son of media mogul Jimmy Lai has urged David Cameron to demand his father's release ahead of a high-profile trial due to begin in mid-December in Hong Kong.

Lai's relatives fear he could die in prison after the 76-year-old was arrested in Hong Kong under China's draconian national security law imposed in 2020 on the continuation of the pro-democracy movement.

The fervent critic of Beijing and founder of the “pro-democracy” newspaper Apple Daily, now defunct, was arrested in August 2020 for alleged collusion with foreign forces.

His son, Sébastien Lai, called on Lord Cameron to “stand with my father” and demand his release, which would send a “clear message” to China.

“I have no doubt that Lord Cameron will do right by his country. and its citizens," he told The Observer.

Mr Lai said he had managed to secure a meeting with Britain's foreign secretary this week to discuss his father's imprisonment.

While Washington criticized a previous conviction of Lai for fraud, the European Parliament publicly called for the activists' release.

"This is a man who is obviously strong, but nothing can be taken for granted at his age. I can only imagine what it's like to be in solitary confinement for over 1,000 days," said Mr. Lai.

Mr. Lai has been representing his father's interests ahead of his trial, which is due to begin on December 18. His father's British legal team was denied access to Lai and fell victim to cyberattacks.

He said he had been requesting a meeting with the British Foreign Secretary since July 2022 and that Lord Cameron was the third secretary. to receive the request. “I met foreign ministers from...