Jimmy Lai, the founder of Next Media, three companies related to Apple Daily and 6 senior managers, total 12 defendants, convicted on charges of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and printing seditious materials under the National Security Law. With Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in prison last month, his local legal team confirmed with Bastillepost on Friday (March, 6) that Lai will not appeal on the conviction and the sentence.
Jimmy Lai's Hong Kong legal team has confirmed that he will not appeal his conviction and sentence. (Image source: Sing Tao Daily)
Three Designated National Security Law Judges Anthea Pang Po-kam, Carlye Chu Fun-ling and Alex Lee Wan-tang emphasized when reading the sentences, the conspiracy of Jimmy Lai and other defendants not only well planned, but also carried out continuously. The international lobbying activities related to SWHK were took place in both Hong Kong and foreign countries, appealing foreign governments to carry out sanctions on Chinese central and SAR officials, and helped some sanctions to be true. The Judges confirms such behaviors as “grave offense” and emphasizes the long-term imprisonment is a must to serve as a deterrent.
The Judges finally accepted Jimmy Lai's advanced age, poor health, and long-term solitary imprisonment made his prison life more difficult than that of others. Therefore, his sentence was reduced by one month and one year, respectively. That is, he was sentenced to 22 months in prison for conspiracy to publish seditious publications and 17 years in prison for two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces. After combining the three charges, he was sentenced to a total of 20 years in prison.
Fung Wai-kwong, the former chief writer and executive chief editor of the English edition of Apple Daily who pleaded guilty in the same case and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, recently appealed his sentence.
Former Apple Daily writer and executive chief editor of its English edition, Fung Wai-kwong, had previously appealed his sentence. (Image source: Sing Tao Daily)
Police kick off fifth cohort of Leadership Institute on Narcotics
The Hong Kong Police Force today (March 7) launched the fifth cohort of the Leadership Institute on Narcotics (L.I.O.N.), a dedicated programme to nurture young anti-drug leaders.
Speaking at the kick-off ceremony, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Chow Yat-ming, said that the abuse of etomidate in recent years has posed challenges to anti-drug efforts, reflecting the ever-changing drug scene. As such, the programme curriculum of L.I.O.N. must keep abreast of the times. In addition to training courses covering leadership skills, drug-related legal and medical knowledge, publicity and media response techniques, and adventure-based training, L.I.O.N. has also incorporated generative artificial intelligence training this year to equip mentees with skills to apply innovative technologies for creating impactful anti-drug projects. The Chinese Mainland exchange tour will also be extended to three days and two nights this year, enabling mentees to engage in in-depth exchanges in the Greater Bay Area and broaden their horizons.
He added that this year marks the fifth anniversary of L.I.O.N.’s establishment, and a series of large-scale promotional activities will be launched, including the “L.I.O.N.–mobile”, an anti-drug short video competition, and a large-scale anti-drug carnival, showcasing the creative achievements of mentees of the current and past cohorts, and further promoting a drug-free culture to the community.
Mr Chow expressed his appreciation to the Hong Kong Youth Development Alliance, executive committee members of the past cohorts, professional trainers, as well as school principals and teachers for their support and contributions to L.I.O.N.. He encouraged mentees of the new cohort to cherish every learning opportunity, and work together with all sectors to build a drug-free society.
At the ceremony, awardees from the fourth cohort shared their valuable insights from the exchange tour to New Zealand in February. They said that the trip deepened their understanding of how anti-drug messages were disseminated there through publicity, education and community involvement, which would help them continue to fulfill their mission as anti-drug leaders in the future.
Established by the Police Narcotics Bureau in 2021, L.I.O.N. brings together various community sectors and annually recruits 80 secondary students and 20 undergraduates as mentees. Through various training activities, visits, as well as exchange tours, L.I.O.N. nurtures young people as anti-drug leaders to disseminate anti-drug messages in the community.
Police kick off fifth cohort of Leadership Institute on Narcotics Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Police kick off fifth cohort of Leadership Institute on Narcotics Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Police kick off fifth cohort of Leadership Institute on Narcotics Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Police kick off fifth cohort of Leadership Institute on Narcotics Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
