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My Man of the Year

Dec 17, 2020 Chris Patten

By jailing fearless Hong Kong pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai on charges of breaking its new national security law, the Communist Party of China intends to reinforce the new limits to the rule of law, dissent, and autonomy in the city. But imprisonment often ennobles fighters for democracy and bolsters support for their cause.

LONDON – On December 12, Jimmy Lai, a successful businessman and brave campaigner for freedom and democracy, was led into court in Hong Kong in handcuffs and chains, accused of breaking the national security law recently imposed by the Communist Party of China (CPC). The Chinese authorities’ goal in charging Lai was to reinforce the new limits to the rule of law, dissent, and autonomy in the city.

The judge was handpicked by Hong Kong’s pliant chief executive, Carrie Lam, whose primary responsibility is to execute the CPC’s malevolent instructions regarding the city. Supporters of the 72-year-old Lai, including Catholic Cardinal Joseph Zen, were in the courtroom to witness him being denied bail until a trial scheduled for April 2021.

The Chinese government hates Lai, because he embodies a passionate belief in freedom, and we must hope that any time Lai spends in prison will be in Hong Kong rather than the mainland. His handcuffs and chains are a tragic symbol of what has happened to Hong Kong’s once-free society in 2020.

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Dealing with China After COVID-19
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Dealing with China After COVID-19

Chris Patten argues that preventing similar disasters requires persuading the communist regime to work with the West.

65
America’s Fifth Column
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America’s Fifth Column

Chris Patten argues that GOP leaders and their media enablers are subverting the cause of liberal democracy everywhere.

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Saving Liberal Democracy
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Saving Liberal Democracy

Chris Patten urges supporters of open societies to resist external threats to their values and practice what they preach.

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donald quixote Dec 24, 2020

This comment was removed by a moderator. Replies to this comment may also be deleted. Please note that we moderate comments to ensure the conversation remains topically relevant. We appreciate well-informed comments and welcome your criticism and insight. Please be civil and avoid name-calling and ad hominem remarks.
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waun85 Dec 22, 2020

Enemy of enemy is my man of the year.
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Godfree Roberts Dec 20, 2020

Jimmy Lai is in deep trouble, facing life in prison for accepting millions in Taiwanese, British, and American money for treasonously betraying his own country.

Jimmy and Chris Patten go back a long way and this article is Chris' way of trying to help him.

Patten is highly influential in the British Conservative party and has no doubt asked friends in the Foreign Office and elsewhere if there are people languishing in British jails who could be exchanged for Jimmy.

Personally, I think it's a long shot. Joshua Wong is young and foolish, but Jimmy has been spreading his poison in Hong Kong and abroad for 34 years. My bet is that he will die in prison–as he would if he committed the same crimes in Britain or the US.
- Andrew Lynch Dec 21, 2020
  
  Chris Patten is highly influential in the British Conservative Party? That is really funny. Almost as funny as suggesting he could arrange a prisoner swap. Sorry, but you do not know very much about how British politics and government works (or sometimes fails to work). Very sorry to have to point that out.
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j. von Hettlingen Dec 19, 2020

Chris Patten calls Jimmy Lai, his “man of the year.” In a broad crackdown on pro-democracy activists, the Hong Kong media tycoon was arrested in August under the controversial security law imposed by China in June. Chinese state media outlet the Global Times described Lai, a prominent voice critical of Hong Kong and mainland Chinese leadership, and a supporter of protests as a "riot supporter." His publications had allegedly been "instigating hatred, spreading rumours and smearing Hong Kong authorities and the mainland for years".
Lai has railed against Beijing's increasingly tight grip on Hong Kong, warning that his city would become as corrupt as mainland China because "without the rule of law, people who do business here will have no protection". He is accused of conspiring with foreign forces to endanger national security, and could face a lengthy jail term under the new security law. The founder of Apple Daily, the biggest pro-democracy newspaper in Hong Kong is detained until his next court date in April next year.
When Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997 under the "one country, two systems" principle, it was guaranteed certain freedoms for the territory - including freedom of assembly and speech, an independent judiciary and some democratic rights - which mainland China does not have. But the National Security Law has reduced Hong Kong's autonomy and made it easier to punish protesters. It introduced new crimes, including penalties of up to life in prison.
Anyone found to have conspired with foreigners to provoke "hatred" of the Chinese government or the Hong Kong authorities may have committed a crime. Mainland security personnel can legally operate in Hong Kong with impunity and keep a watchful eye on the citizens. What is alarming is that trials can be held in secret and without a jury, and cases can be taken over by the mainland authorities. The right to a fair trial is non-existent.
The author says, “for the apparent crimes of principle and courage, and his refusal to surrender his beliefs,” Lai has been seen as a persistent thorn for the “vengeful” Ccommunist Party (CPC). Patten criticises “a few Hong Kong lickspittles whose reputations will forever be tarred by shame and infamy” for their collaboration with the CPC. He thinks “imprisonment often ennobles fighters for democracy and bolsters support for their cause: think of Martin Luther King, Jr., Nelson Mandela, or Václav Havel.”
By jailing the fearless Lai on trumped-up charges, including breaking the new national security law, the CPC intends to reinforce the new limits to the rule of law, dissent, and autonomy in Hong Kong. This draconian law is now President Xi Jinping’s new tool to suppress critical pro-democracy opinion and restrict press freedom. Beijing has said the new security law will return stability to Hong Kong after a year of unrest, but it has merely silenced dissent.
Although Lai also holds British citizenship, there is little the UK can or wants to do, other than expressing concerns about the focus of Hong Kong authorities on pursuing legal cases against pro-democracy figures like Lai. Some members of the now disbanded pro-democracy group are being prosecuted under the national security law. Anyone advocating Hong Kong’s independence will face charges of secession, which could carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Lai is being seen as a hero for many residents in Hong Kong but on the mainland he is viewed as a traitor who threatens Chinese national security. Before his arrest earlier in December, he said he would not give in to intimidation. "If they can induce fear in you, that's the cheapest way to control you and the most effective way and they know it. The only way to defeat the way of intimidation is to face up to fear and don't let it frighten you."
Lai has chosen to be on the right side of history, and he will be remembered for being one of the martyrs of democracy.
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David Donald Dec 18, 2020

Even if Jimmy Lai did not get his great wish - to be the Donald Trump of Hong Kong - he did help provoke the chaos that triggered the National Security Law that has chilled much activity and damaged Hong Kong's utility for China as a Western-governed finance island. In this sense, he did help the competitive position of London, which no doubt makes Mr Patten rather happy.
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David Donald Dec 18, 2020

Even if Jimmy Lai did not get his great wish - to be the Donald Trump of Hong Kong - he did help provoke the chaos that triggered the National Security Law that has chilled much activity and damaged Hong Kong's utility for China as a Western-governed finance island. In this sense, he did help the competitive position of London, which no doubt makes Mr Patten rather happy.
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眼光 Canadian / China Dec 17, 2020

the British influence the HK people to long and changed the thinking and life style of this Chinese colony for ever . The people are torn between the PRC and the British political system . HK will never be what it was before the British invaded . In fact there are many bad Chinese who have cheated main land Chinese hiding in Hongkong . The PRC will take over complete control of HK in time . Western influence has changed many a Hongkong person .
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