{"id":135040,"date":"2023-12-12T09:59:05","date_gmt":"2023-12-12T09:59:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fin2me.com\/?p=135040"},"modified":"2023-12-12T09:59:05","modified_gmt":"2023-12-12T09:59:05","slug":"david-cameron-urged-to-stand-up-to-china-and-demand-release-of-jailed-brit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fin2me.com\/politics\/david-cameron-urged-to-stand-up-to-china-and-demand-release-of-jailed-brit\/","title":{"rendered":"David Cameron urged to stand up to China and demand release of jailed Brit"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

The son of a British media tycoon who has spent three years awaiting trial in a Hong Kong jail will today urge David Cameron to stand up to China and demand his release. Jimmy Lai, 76, founder of the pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper, was arrested in 2020. His case has become emblematic of the region\u2019s bitter crackdown on press freedom.<\/p>\n

The businessman\u2019s trial on charges including sedition and collusion with foreign agents is due to begin next Monday. His son Sebastien will meet with the Foreign Secretary on Tuesday evening – the first time he has been granted an audience with a British foreign secretary.<\/p>\n

Sebastien said he hoped this would lead to the UK calling for Mr Lai\u2019s release, as the UN, US and European Parliament have already done.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: <\/strong> World economy on ‘brink of collapse’ as Cold War risks ‘annihilating’ free trade<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

He told reporters in London on Monday: \u201cHe is someone who sacrificed everything he had to stand up for these freedoms. Calling for my father\u2019s release is the first step… it is uncontroversial, in my opinion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sebastien was on a business trip abroad when his father was arrested and has not been able to see him or return to Hong Kong since.<\/p>\n

He said Mr Lai, who turned 76 on Friday, had essentially spent three years in solitary confinement, raising concerns about his health.<\/p>\n

Sebastien was optimistic that a stronger intervention by the Foreign Secretary \u201cwould be very helpful\u201d.<\/p>\n

In October, Australian journalist Cheng Lei was released following three years of detention in China, after the Australian government campaigned and urged China to follow \u201cbasic standards of justice, procedural fairness and humane treatment\u201d.<\/p>\n

Don’t miss… <\/strong>
China’s threat to Taiwan must prompt action after ‘lesson learned in Ukraine'[LATEST] <\/strong>
More massive problems for China’s economy – this time deflation as prices crash[INSIGHT] <\/strong>
Putin’s military ‘will collapse’ as soon as West stops supplying key tools[EXPERT] <\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n