Sebastian Lai confides in franceinfo to be afraid for his father, sentenced to six years in prison. This media boss is one of Hong Kong’s best-known pro-democracy activists.
Jimmy Lai is the founder of the Apple Daily. A newspaper critical of Chinese power that was forced to close just two years ago. Since then, Jimmy Lai has been in detention. He was sentenced to six years in prison for an alleged fraud. Aged 75, he is still to be tried soon for “collusion with foreign forces”, a violation of the drastic national security law imposed by Beijing, which is punishable by life imprisonment. Passing through France, Sebastian Lai, his son, tries to mobilize so that we do not forget either Hong Kong or his father.
franceinfo: Are you afraid for your father?
Alexander Lay: Of course, I’m scared! I’m afraid I won’t see him again. Each year is one year less of his life. You know, I got married not long ago and my dad wasn’t here. Personally, yes, I’m afraid. But I think as a citizen, my father’s story is a story that serves as an example.
Who is your father and what does he represent for Hong Kongers?
First of all, my father is a story. He left China at the age of 12 with nothing to make a living in Hong Kong. This is where he became the billionaire we know. A press boss, but above all an icon of freedom and human rights. Dad has an English passport, he could have left and escaped Hong Kong anytime. But in the end, he told himself that he was not going to let Hong Kong down and that freedom was more important than his personal comfort. My dad is really a man of his word!
What message do you want to convey in Europe?
Hong Kong explains to anyone who will listen that it is again possible to do business. That business can resume. But it’s wrong. In fact, the famous “one country, two systems” promise has not been kept. The main consequence is that Hong Kong cannot become a financial center again, especially with 1,500 political prisoners in its prisons.
Is there still resistance in Hong Kong?
It must already be said that the freedom you have in the West is priceless! It is a capital value. And I think that this desire for freedom is rooted in the hearts of all Hong Kongers.