Hong Kong applies to seize Jimmy Lai’s ‘offence-related’ properties on national security grounds

The Hong Kong government has filed an application to seize properties owned by jailed pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai on national security grounds. The move, announced on Thursday, aims to prevent and suppress acts and activities that endanger national security. The government's statement highlighted Lai's earlier convictions under the Beijing-imposed national security law, noting that the High Court had found him to be the "mastermind and driving force" behind efforts to undermine local and Beijing authorities through his media outlet, Apple Daily.

Jimmy Lai, a prominent figure in Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in a high-profile national security case. The government's decision to seize his properties comes a week after designating three companies linked to Lai's now-defunct Apple Daily tabloid as "prohibited organisations" and removing them from the corporate registry. Police subsequently cordoned off the Apple Daily building in Tseung Kwan O.

The three firms were tried and convicted alongside Lai in his national security case. In addition to Lai's lengthy prison sentence, the companies were each fined HK$3,004,500. The government's application cites a provision of the national security law that allows for the seizure and confiscation of proceeds obtained from security offences, including financial aid, gains, rewards, funds, and tools used or intended for committing the offence.

The High Court will issue a forfeiture order only if it is satisfied that the property in question meets the relevant conditions, following an application by the Secretary for Justice. The government argues that such an order would cut "funding chains" and prevent further acts that could endanger national security.

This latest development follows the government's recent crackdown on pro-democracy figures and media outlets, reflecting its determination to enforce the national security law and curb dissent. Critics have accused the authorities of using the law to stifle freedom of expression and undermine Hong Kong's autonomy.

The seizing of Jimmy Lai's properties is expected to draw international attention, as the global community continues to monitor the situation in Hong Kong under the national security law. The move could also have broader implications for other pro-democracy activists and their assets, as the government seeks to consolidate its control over the region.

In response to the government's actions, pro-democracy advocates have condemned the seizure of Lai's properties as an attempt to silence dissent and intimidate those who oppose the Beijing-imposed law. They argue that the national security law is being used to suppress political opposition and erode the freedoms that Hong Kong has long enjoyed.

As the case unfolds, the future of Jimmy Lai's properties and the broader implications of the national security law for Hong Kong's political landscape remain uncertain. The government's application to seize Lai's assets underscores the ongoing tensions between Beijing, Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, and the international community, as the region navigates the complex challenges posed by the national security law.