Jimmy Lai, the founder of pro-democracy Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily, believes that recent arrests in the city, including his own, are likely more of an effort to chill dissent than an indication of a total crackdown.
In an interview with Fox Business’s Maria Bartiromo on Thursday, the media mogul expressed his thoughts on the recent implementation of China’s new “national security” law for Hong Kong and what it was like being detained by city authorities.
Numerous foreign business leaders in the city have expressed that they may dismantle operations there, and Lai said that at some point, China will realize it has to stop the bleeding.
“Maybe they think that they need to have the national security law inactive but not dormant,” Lai said, adding that authorities would want the public to know that “the law is [enacted]” and suggesting that China was making an example out of him.
“But I think after that, they will let the law low-profile, make sure that they appease the business people and the international community. So, nothing changes. Hong Kong goes on as before.”
Lai was arrested Monday on the suspicion that he “colluded with foreign forces.” He said that he was not mistreated or tortured by police as some feared might happen.
“They treated me quite politely,” he said.
The new law, implemented several weeks ago, criminalizes subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces, and terrorism. The law was written so vaguely that it has been used to target dissidents opposing the Chinese government.
