China imposed the sweeping security law on Hong Kong last year to wipe out dissent after the financial hub was rocked by huge and often violent democracy protests. Democracy activist Andy Li, 31, and paralegal Chan Tsz-wah, 30, admitted to a charge of "colluding with foreign forces to endanger China's national security" on Thursday. Authorities have accused Lai, 73, and a network of supporters of breaking the security law by supporting international sanctions against China over its crackdown in Hong Kong. Lai's popular newspaper Apple Daily closed down in June after authorities used the security law to freeze its assets over the content of the tabloid's reporting. Li was one of 12 Hong Kongers who made a failed attempt to flee the city by speedboat for Taiwan last summer.

Source: Bangkok Post August 19, 2021 04:07 UTC