Hong Kong arrest of media tycoon Jimmy Lai sparks international condemnation
- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says arrest is proof the Chinese government has ‘eviscerated’ Hong Kong’s freedoms
- Britain, EU and UN also express concern over police move just over a month into the implementation of the new national security law
The rapid responses to the move against Apple Daily founder Lai and others linked to the newspaper – which is known for its criticism of Beijing and the Hong Kong government – included a tweet from US Vice President Mike Pence describing the arrest as deeply offensive.
Pence said on Twitter that Lai’s arrest was an “affront to freedom loving people around the world”. He recalled meeting Lai at the White House and said he had been inspired by his stand for democracy, as well as the rights and autonomy promised to the people of Hong Kong.
“The United States will continue to stand with Jimmy Lai and all the freedom loving people of Hong Kong,” Pence said.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the arrest was proof the Chinese government had “eviscerated” Hong Kong’s freedoms.
“I’m deeply troubled by reports of the arrest of [Lai] under Hong Kong’s draconian National Security Law,” Pompeo said in a Twitter post. “Further proof that the [Chinese Communist Party] has eviscerated Hong Kong’s freedoms and eroded the rights of its people.”
Britain, the European Union and the United Nations also expressed concern over the police move just over a month into the implementation of the new law which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.