“Violence and intimidation seem to be the ongoing currency for those opposed to democracy and free press. There is no other plausible explanation here.”
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Jimmy Lai
Lai Chee-ying, also known as Jimmy Lai, is a Hong Kong businessman, politician, and political prisoner. He founded the clothing retailer Giordano, the media company Next Digital, and the newspaper Apple Daily. He is one of the main contributors to Hong Kong's pro-democracy camp, especially to the Democratic Party. A British citizen since 1994, he was imprisoned in 2020 and his business operations…
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business · Hong Kong businessman and activist (born 1947) · entrepreneur · businessperson · also Jimmy Lai, Li Zhiying, Lai Chee-ying, Lai
Born 8 December 1947 · Q1447095
37 published statements · 0 followers
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2026· 8 entries
“s Mainland Affairs Council condemned the sentence as”
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“to spend more time with his family and further pursue his personal interests.”
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“We in Hong Kong are fighting for the shared values of the US against China. We are fighting their war in the enemy camp.”
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Crux: British bishop calls new PM to bat for jailed Catholic Hong Kong activist Jimmy Lai
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South China Morning Post: Jimmy Lai Chee-ying
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The Hill: Don’t Let Jimmy Lai become another Liu Xiaobo
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During custody for over five years, Lai suffered health issues including heart palpitations, high blood pressure and diabetes
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2025· 4 entries
The Economist: Tycoon troublemaker: the rise and fall of Jimmy Lai
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Yahoo: Jimmy Lai's daughter says he'd focus on family, not activism, if he's freed in Hong Kong
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Forbes: Jimmy Lai’s Life At Serious And Immediate Risk In Detention
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Yahoo: Trump has vowed to free Jimmy Lai. A Hong Kong court is about to decide the media mogul’s fate
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2024· 2 entries
National Catholic Register: Jimmy Lai’s Godfather Discusses Trial: ‘He’s a Real Champion of Freedom’
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Forbes: Jimmy Lai’s Trial Under National Security Law Delayed Yet Again
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2022· 1 entry
The Acton Institute released a documentary about Lai's political activism, called The Hong Konger
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2021· 1 entry
Won World Association of Newspapers' Golden Pen of Freedom Award (2021).
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2020· 6 entries
VOA rated the claim ““Experts familiar with Hong Kong's judicial affairs said that the denial of bail on Thursday is a legal decision based on the fact that (Jimmy) Lai was involved in multiple cases, and there is the risk that he might flee the city …”” Misleading.
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VOA rated the claim ““Hong Kong affairs have nothing to do with freedom of the press … [Lai] and his ilk want to be US pawns in Hong Kong ... They are special allies of the US.”” False.
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Amid escalating political tensions, Lai launched an English-language edition of Apple Daily
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And his business operations shuttered under pressure from the Chinese government
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“the only one who can save us”
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Career landmark: arrest.
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2014· 1 entry
Leaked documents showed Lai paid former US deputy defence secretary and former World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz US$75,000 for his help with projects in Myanmar
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2011· 1 entry
Lai's private company Sum Tat Ventures, based in British Virgin Islands, acquired the entirety of Next Media's subsidiary Colored World Holdings for US$120 million, shortly after which CWH ceased operations
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2006· 1 entry
Launched Sharp Daily, a free commuter newspaper, along with Me
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2003· 1 entry
Ahead of the 1 July march, Next Magazine and Apple Daily featured a photo-montage of the territory's embattled chief executive Tung Chee-Hwa taking a pie in the face
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2001· 1 entry
And Apple Daily in 2003, entering a competitive and politically charged market
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1999· 1 entry
Through a reverse takeover of Paramount Publishing Group
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1997· 2 entries
Did not always follow up on these misconducts against Lai, and that culprits are rarely found
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Lai put up the capital for his twin sister, Lai Si-wai, to acquire numerous properties in the Southern Ontario wine and vacation region of Niagara-on-the-Lake
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1996· 1 entry
Lai sold his stake in Giordano, leaving the garment industry for media and politics, keeping Comitex active as a shell company
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1995· 1 entry
As the city prepared for the 1997 handover, Lai invested US$100 million of his own funds to establish Apple Daily
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1990· 1 entry
Founded Next Magazine, which fused tabloid sensationalism with hard-hitting political and business reporting
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1989· 1 entry
Met his current wife Teresa, then a 24-year-old college student; they married two years later, and have children together
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1981· 1 entry
Lai founded Asian clothing retailer Giordano
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1975· 1 entry
Lai used his year-end bonus on Hong Kong stocks to raise cash and bought a bankrupt garment factory, Comitex, where he began producing and exporting sweaters
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1947· 1 entry
Born 1947-12-08.
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