Hong Kong court refuses to drop Jimmy Lai sedition charge

Hong Kong court rejects pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai's bid to throw out sedition charge, trial adjourned to Jan 2.

A Hong Kong court on Friday rejected jailed pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai's bid to throw out a charge of seditious publication in a trial that has attracted international attention.

The trial began Monday for Mr. Lai, who is charged with "collusion" with foreign forces under a Beijing-imposed national security law, a charge that carries a potential life sentence.

He is also accused of "conspiracy to produce seditious publications" -- a colonial-era offence that has been revived after decades of disuse -- which is considered a lesser charge as it carries a shorter jail sentence if convicted.

His lawyers earlier argued that the sedition charge should be tossed out as the prosecution began too late, beyond the six-month time limit stipulated by Hong Kong law.

"We are of the view the charge is not time-barred, so the application of the defence must fail," Judge Esther Toh ruled Friday, agreeing with prosecutors' interpretation of how to calculate that window.

The case has been adjourned to January 2, when prosecutors are expected to make opening arguments.

Mr. Lai, 76, is the founder of the now-shuttered Chinese-language tabloid Apple Daily, which often criticised Beijing and supported the huge pro-democracy protest movement that roiled Hong Kong in 2019.