Hong Kong court rejects bid to drop sedition charge against Jimmy Lai

Hong Kong court rejects bid to drop sedition charge against Jimmy Lai

World

Lai also faces two charges under a China-imposed law of conspiring to collude with foreign forces

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HONG KONG (Reuters) – A Hong Kong court on Friday rejected a bid by the legal team for pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai to have sedition charge against him dropped, in a closely watched national security trial.

Lai, 76, the founder of now-shuttered pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, was charged with conspiracy to publish seditious publications under a colonial-era sedition law.

Lai also faces two charges under a China-imposed national security law of conspiring to collude with foreign forces, which could see him jailed for life.

Lai has pleaded not guilty to all charges.