Jimmy Lai's son fears Hong Kong media mogul may die in detention while awaiting trial

abcnews.go.com:

The son of jailed Hong Kong media mogul and prominent pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai says he doesn't want to see his father die in detention, as his lawyers raised the prospect that his long-delayed trial may be pushed back indefinitely

LONDON — The son of jailed Hong Kong media mogul and prominent pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai said Wednesday he did not want to see his father die in detention, as his lawyers raised the prospect that his long-delayed trial may be pushed back indefinitely.

Sebastien Lai also slammed the U.K. government for its “shameful” lack of action in helping his father, who is a British national.

Jimmy Lai, the 75-year-old founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, has been in detention since he was arrested in 2020 under a sweeping national security law imposed by Beijing. The Hong Kong businessman faces up to life in prison if convicted. He has already been sentenced to five years and nine months in a separate case.

His trial was originally set to begin last December, but it has been delayed several times by judges. It is now due to start on Dec. 18.

His son Sebastien Lai, 28, and his lawyers have described the case as a “show trial.” They suggested that Hong Kong authorities may delay the trial date further not only because they have a weak case, but also because there is no benefit to them for Lai to air his views during a public hearing that’s expected to last two to three months.

Sebastien Lai, who has been travelling to the U.S., U.K., and the United Nations to lobby international leaders to help his father, criticized Britain's government Wednesday for its muted language in condemning his father's lengthy detention.

He also called the U.K. approach to China incoherent