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Eric Lai 黎恩灝

@ericyhlai.bsky.social
402 followers 245 following 86 posts

Senior Fellow @GeorgetownCAL | PhD (@SOAS) | Law, Politics, Human Rights & Non-profit | HK&PRC| RTs=/endorsem’t

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Reposted by Eric Lai 黎恩灝
Johnson, Ching-Yin Yeung 楊政賢 @hkjohnsonyeung.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Her T-Shirt says, "I am a staff of a bookstore". Two more independent bookstores are raided today in #HongKong. According to Inmedia, one of the book seized is @emilyzfeng.bsky.social 's Let only Red Flowers Bloom.
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Eric Lai 黎恩灝 @ericyhlai.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
The HKG updated the 2020 National Security implementation rules today. Due process rights are further tightened, targeting civilians' electronic devices, freedom of movement, and narrowing legal professional privilege in the system. English doc here: www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/...
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Milk Tea Alliance Calendar @mtacalendar.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
New event! 📆27th March 🕡6:30pm CET NoWhere BookStore, In the Hague, Netherlands host talk "Revisiting Hong Kong’s Social Movements: A Conversation with @ericyhlai.bsky.social" Details: www.instagram.com/p/DV1OGUBjLK5
Revisiting Hong Kong’s Social Movements: A Conversation with Eric Yan-ho Lai
#飛地荷蘭活動 

Date: Friday, March 27
Time: 18:30 – 20:30
Language: English
Guest Speaker: Eric Yan-ho Lai / 黎恩灝
Location: Nowhere Bookstore Netherlands
Piet Heinstraat 42, 2518 CJ, The Hague
Admission: €5 (fully redeemable for in-store purchases)
(Free for Nowhere Republic Passport Holder)
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Eric Lai 黎恩灝 @ericyhlai.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
Beijing’s 2026 white paper on Hong Kong dropped one day after Jimmy Lai’s 20-year sentence. As with 2014 and 2021, the timing was deliberate. My new piece in @jamestown.org’s China Brief breaks down the four things the document really signals. 🧵 🔗 jamestown.org/white-paper-...
jamestown.org
White Paper Increases Securitization of Hong Kong - Jamestown
Executive Summary: On February 10, the State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) released a white paper titled “Realizing National Security Under ‘One Country, Two Syste...
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Eric Lai 黎恩灝 @ericyhlai.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
This decision might have symbolic influences to those who aspire for greater legal engagement with the HK judiciary,but lacks substantive impacts on Jimmy Lai,who is still going to remain in jail for 20 years.And the prosecution can still file a final appeal. www.channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/ho...
channelnewsasia.com
Hong Kong mogul Jimmy Lai wins appeal in fraud case
The ruling was a surprise win for Jimmy Lai, days after a court jailed him on separate national security charges.
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Eric Lai 黎恩灝 @ericyhlai.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
Reprisal by the Chinese University of HK. This young student was even not charged. He’s just on police bail, and the school decided to dismiss him as a student. As an alumni and a former student union president, may I ask the CUHK what is your education mission today? hongkongfp.com/2026/02/13/s...
hongkongfp.com
Student who urged Tai Po fire probe says CUHK expelled him
A Chinese University of Hong Kong student who launched a now-removed petition calling for accountability following the deadly Tai Po fire has said he has been expelled.
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Eric Lai 黎恩灝 @ericyhlai.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
Speaking tomorrow on Hong Kong’s rule of law,press freedom, China’s United Front, and the evolving forms of resistance to authoritarian rule.Grateful to @yuenchan.bsky.social and Richard Danbury for bringing this conversation together. Looking forward to engaging with members at City St George, UoL.
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Eric Lai 黎恩灝 @ericyhlai.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
This is collective punishment and broadly transnational repression. It is regrettable that the Hong Kong court is endorsing and enabling this shameful tactic. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/w...
nytimes.com
Hong Kong Convicts a Political Exile’s Father, a First for the City
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Eric Lai 黎恩灝 @ericyhlai.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
1/In the sentencing decision, the court offered numerous technical justifications for the severe penalty against Jimmy and other defendants, but these rationales are indefensible under the liberal rule of law tradition Hong Kong enjoyed for decades.
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Eric Lai 黎恩灝 @ericyhlai.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
1/Tomorrow, Hong Kong's courts will sentence Jimmy Lai and others convicted under the National Security Law. Here's what to watch:
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Eric Lai 黎恩灝 @ericyhlai.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
Delighted to kick off the year as part of the Asia Freedom Fellows Programme. We began with an in-person symposium in London this January, exploring how classical liberal ideas speak to politics, governance, and economic policy in Asia.
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Reposted by Eric Lai 黎恩灝
Milk Tea Alliance Calendar @mtacalendar.bsky.social · 16/11/2025
New event! 📆6th Dec 🕡18:30 Taiwan Time HK Outlanders Taiwan hold double book talk with @ericyhlai.bsky.social "Decolonization of the Rule of Law: Hong Kong's Battle for Human Rights" Discussing the decline of the rule of law in Hong Kong. Details: www.instagram.com/p/DRHu4D1D33S/
【新書主題講座】12/06 解殖法治:香港捍衛人權之戰 

#黎恩灝 (Eric Lai),倫敦大學亞非學院哲學博士(法律學)、美國喬治城大學亞洲法中心高級研究員(Senior Fellow)。

研究領域包括 #法與社會、#司法政治、#社會運動、#國際人權 及 #威權主義,亦曾參與香港公民社會及人權運動發展超過十年。近著包括《破解香港的威權法治——傘後到反送中以來的民主運動,2021年)、《在夾縫中抵抗:從依法治國與司法抗爭的比較經驗看香港(2024年)及Legal Resistance Under Authoritarianism: The Struggle for the Rule of Law in Hong Kong(威權下的法律抗爭:香港法治之戰,2025年)。

講者兩本近著,審視中國擴大威權影響下,香港法治的衰落。儘管2020年《國安法》實施被視為一個轉捩點,但講者認為,香港法治的威脅,早於1997年的主權移交時已開始。根據田野考察和文本分析,探討香港法律人和國家權力之間的張力,以及抵抗中國威權擴張的進路;並借鑒比較經驗,反思在後《國安法》的威權化時代,捍衛法治與人權的可能性。

講座資訊:
 講者|黎恩灝 Eric Lai(博士、美國喬治城大學亞洲法中心高級研究員)
 時間|12月06日(六)18:30 - 20:00
 地點|左轉有書(100臺北市中正區鎮江街3之1號)
 形式|本次活動將以華語進行
 人數|名額有限,請從速報名


【主辦單位】香港邊城青年
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Eric Lai 黎恩灝 @ericyhlai.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
1/This week, I was invited by a number of media outlets, including Al Jazeera, DW News and France 24, to explain the disbandment of the League of Social Democrats and the future of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement. Link here (France 24): www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/...
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Eric Lai 黎恩灝 @ericyhlai.bsky.social · 30/06/2025
Joined #AlJazeera to discuss the disbandment of League of Social Democrats in #HongKong, marking the nearly total disappearance of #opposition parties and #political #pluralism in this city.
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Eric Lai 黎恩灝 @ericyhlai.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
Thrilled to share my new book Legal Resistance under Authoritarianism (July 2025).It explores how legal actors engage in resistance within authoritarian regimes,sometimes quietly,sometimes boldly.Endless thanks to those who challenged,encouraged, and shaped this work.Link: www.aup.nl/en/book/9789...
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Eric Lai 黎恩灝 @ericyhlai.bsky.social · 12/05/2025
1/[Why Did the HKG Propose a Security Subsidiary Legislation Today?] Just when they are reading the proposal in the Legislative Council, PRC's State Council released a new White Paper on "China's National Security in the New Age”.
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Eric Lai 黎恩灝 @ericyhlai.bsky.social · 12/05/2025
1/The proposal further codifies the broad powers of the Office for Safeguarding National Security (OSNS) operating in HK, without meaningful checks by local BODIES. This reflects the rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape, espc. the growing tensions between China and the West.
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Eric Lai 黎恩灝 @ericyhlai.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
1/In prayers and solidarity I am sharing my thoughts on Cardinal Zen’e bravery and faithful witness in rejecting calls for him to leave HK where the government accuses him with the draconian national security law. Thanks @WSJ for publishing this oped. www.wsj.com/opinion/card...
wsj.com
Opinion | Cardinal Zen Refuses to Flee From the Wolves
He has returned to Hong Kong to be with his flock.
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Eric Lai 黎恩灝 @ericyhlai.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
Were they living in democratic society, never would they have been sent to jail for what they have committed to five years ago.
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Reposted by Eric Lai 黎恩灝
The Guardian @theguardian.com · 29/04/2025
Four pro-democracy lawmakers from ‘Hong Kong 47’ group freed after four years in jail
theguardian.com
Four pro-democracy lawmakers from ‘Hong Kong 47’ group freed after four years in jail
Claudia Mo, Kwok Ka-ki, Jeremy Tam and Gary Fan among those released on Tuesday after prosecution criticised as politically motivated A group of pro-democracy lawmakers jailed in a landmark Hong Kong national security trial have been freed after spending four years in prison. Local media had reported that the group, Claudia Mo, Kwok Ka-ki, Jeremy Tam and Gary Fan, would be freed on Tuesday from three separate prisons across Hong Kong. Continue reading...
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Eric Lai 黎恩灝 @ericyhlai.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
Congrats to the report launch! Delighted to provide my comments on the impacts of reprisals tactics against civil society members actively engaging in the UN human rights bodies.
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Eric Lai 黎恩灝 @ericyhlai.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
I am pleased to present my contribution to the latest edited volume on Hong Kong’s autocratisation. Adapting Lord Bingham’s principles of the Rule of Law, I examine how the legal system and separation of powers have been eroded under the autocratisation process. Order here: lnkd.in/eKQ-h2wF
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Eric Lai 黎恩灝 @ericyhlai.bsky.social · 21/04/2025
In 2013, I had a privilege to attend the inaugural mass of Pope Francis and the following Palm Sunday (Passion Sunday)Mass at St Peter Basilica,presided over by Pope Francis as well. His examples, words and deeds, though not everyone agree, inspire many. Requiescat in pace. AMDG.
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Reposted by Eric Lai 黎恩灝
NPR @npr.org · 21/04/2025
The international community reacts to the death of Pope Francis, who was a truly global figure and influence went beyond the Catholic church.
npr.org
The world mourns the passing of the Pope
The international community reacts to the death of Pope Francis, who was a truly global figure and influence went beyond the Catholic church.
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Hong Kong Accountability Archive @hkaccountability.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
Today we are proud to launch the Hong Kong Accountability Archive (HKAA), an independent database of videos from the 2019 pro-democracy protests aimed at protecting freedom of peaceful assembly by preserving evidence of human rights violations. Watch this promo for more on the project.
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Reposted by Eric Lai 黎恩灝
Emily Feng @emilyzfeng.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
The nonprofit in an old Christian Science building archiving the internet. www.npr.org/2025/03/23/n...
npr.org
As the Trump administration purges web pages, this group is rushing to save them
The Trump administration's erasure of federal data has put the Internet Archive in the spotlight. The organization, with its small but mighty team, is working to help save the world's digital history.
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Eric Lai 黎恩灝 @ericyhlai.bsky.social · 23/03/2025
My take in theStraitsTimes: “The most commonly used charge of sedition – inciting others to rebel against the authority of the government or state – has allowed the authorities “to exert greater social control, particularly over dissenting opinions and speeches.” www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-as...
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Tom Kellogg @tom-kellogg.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
We are also working hand in hand with Chinese (and HK) scholars on cutting-edge research. See our series of reports on Hong Kong's draconian National Security Law here, many of them co-authored with my friend and colleague @ericyhlai.bsky.social: www.law.georgetown.edu/law-asia/pub...
law.georgetown.edu
Reports
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Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
In an extraordinary display of public support, heads of state, heads of government, and foreign ministers from all over Europe and Canada are posting in support of Ukraine in response to the Oval Office meeting with Trump, Zelenskyy, and Vance.
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Tom Kellogg @tom-kellogg.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
Some good news on the foreign aid funding freeze fight! As many have seen, the DC District Court has just issued a TRO against USG. A big initial victory, but there's a long road ahead. Some initial thoughts on the ruling, but first, here is the @nytimes.com writeup: www.nytimes.com/2025/02/14/u...
nytimes.com
Judge Orders Trump Administration to Resume Foreign Aid Spending
The judge faulted the logic of a blanket freeze on foreign aid spending and found that groups that depend on the aid had made a strong initial showing of “irreparable harm.”
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Eric Lai 黎恩灝 @ericyhlai.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
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lokman tsui @lokman.org · 08/01/2025
The 5 that stand out for me: 1) the HK gov pressuring Google to censor a song (I used to work for Google on freedom of expression issues). I helped out with a legal analysis of this case, together with @ericyhlai.bsky.social and @tom-kellogg.bsky.social. 👇 www.law.georgetown.edu/law-asia/wp-...
law.georgetown.edu
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Eric Lai 黎恩灝 @ericyhlai.bsky.social · 27/12/2024
Independence and autonomy are threats to autocratic regimes, even if such autonomy does not relate to political authority. Such autocrats’ anxiety often creates further grievance among the people as the former would want to overact for their own security.
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Eric Lai 黎恩灝 @ericyhlai.bsky.social · 24/12/2024
1/While the PRC govt always denounces foreign interference as interfering sovereignty, the HKG’s latest announcement directly infringes sovereignty of other countries, including the US, UK, Canada and Australia. They have the right to trade, practice and speak freely.
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Victor Shih @vicshih.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
Great podcast on the situation in S Korea with long interview of @jeanhong.bsky.social , really interesting podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
podcasts.apple.com
Six hours under martial law in South Korea
Podcast Episode · On Point | Podcast · 12/09/2024 · 47m
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Eric Lai 黎恩灝 @ericyhlai.bsky.social · 06/12/2024
1/New publication: My latest piece of review and analysis of HK’s NSL regime in the Taiwan Human Rights Journal., titled “Not Just About the Law”. Also feature @chungchingkwong ‘s piece on NSL and digital rights. You can download them here: taiwanhrj.org
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Georgetown Center for Asian Law @georgetowncal.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
New Report! In this report, GCAL analyzes the government’s extensive – and, ultimately, successful – drive to push leading tech companies to censor the 2019 pro-democracy anthem “Glory to Hong Kong.” @tom-kellogg.bsky.social @ericyhlai.bsky.social @lokman.org www.law.georgetown.edu/law-asia/wp-...
law.georgetown.edu
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Eric Lai 黎恩灝 @ericyhlai.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
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Tom Kellogg @tom-kellogg.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
The new @georgetowncal.bsky.social report on the HKNSL crackdown is out! Written by me and my co-authors @ericyhlai.bsky.social and Lokman Tsui. (Will do a thread on the report's contents asap -- stay tuned!) Link here: www.law.georgetown.edu/law-asia/wp-...
law.georgetown.edu
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Eric Lai 黎恩灝 @ericyhlai.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
1/Announcement: introducing our new report released today! We @lokman.org @tom-kellogg.bsky.social analyzes the HK govt’s extensive – and, ultimately, successful – drive to push leading tech companies to censor the protest anthem “Glory to Hong Kong.” georgetown.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?...
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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 02/12/2024
NEW REPORT: We investigate the rising trend of gender-based digital transnational repression by drawing on the lived experiences of 85 women human rights defenders living in exile across the globe. Read the full report: citizenlab.ca/2024/12/the-...
citizenlab.ca
No Escape: The Weaponization of Gender for the Purposes of Digital Transnational Repression - The Citizen Lab
Building upon our prior research and the contributions of other scholars to this field, the aim of this novel study is to understand the security risks and harms caused by digital transnational repres...
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Eric Lai 黎恩灝 @ericyhlai.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
Great announcement: happy to contribute to an upcoming edited volume on politics of NSL-era Hong KongMy chapter focuses on judicial independence and the rule of law in NSL-era Hong Kong. See the description of the book here. It will be out next April! www.routledge.com/Hong-Kong-Po...
routledge.com
Hong Kong Politics after the National Security Law: Autocratization and Its Consequences
Ortmann, Lau and Chan, together with the contributors provide an innovative assessment of the impact of the National Security Law on Hong Kong politics. The law was introduced by the Chinese governmen...
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Tom Grundy @tomgrundy.hongkongfp.com · 29/11/2024
Asked by handpicked judge, Alex Lee, whether he was worried about possibly contravening the security law, Jimmy Lai said: "If I had any worries, I did not think about them... "I [would] persist, stay in Hong Kong and face it."
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 29/11/2024
Macron visits newly renovated Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris
theguardian.com
Macron visits newly renovated Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris
French president tours rebuilt medieval cathedral to mark imminent reopening to the public after devastating 2019 fire Emmanuel Macron has gone on a televised tour around the newly renovated Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, marking the church’s imminent…
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lokman tsui @lokman.org · 25/11/2024
A new report on how Chinese pro-PRC disinformation continues to spread on supposedly independent news websites around the globe, from Google's Threat Analysis Group. cloud.google.com/blog/topics/...
cloud.google.com
Seeing Through a GLASSBRIDGE: Understanding the Digital Marketing Ecosystem Spreading Pro-PRC Influence Operations | Google Cloud Blog
GLASSBRIDGE is an umbrella group of four different companies that operate networks of inauthentic news sites and newswire services.
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Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 29/11/2024
🤔 The case of Hungary shows how autocrats can rig elections legally, using legislative majorities to change the law and neutralize the opposition at every turn, no matter what strategy they adopt. www.journalofdemocra...
journalofdemocracy.org
How Viktor Orbán Wins | Journal of Democracy
The case of Hungary shows how autocrats can rig elections legally, using legislative majorities to change the law and neutralize the opposition at every turn, no matter what strategy they adopt.
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Eric Lai 黎恩灝 @ericyhlai.bsky.social · 28/11/2024
If you are in London next week, join us in this timely symposium about NSL-era Hong Kong, featuring outstanding scholars in law, economy and society of Hong Kong. We thank SOAS China Institute and Georgetown Center for Asian Law for cohosting it. RSVP here: forms.office.com/pages/respon...
Poster of Symposium on Law, Economy and Society in NSL-era Hong Kong, dated on 5th December 2024, at Senate House, University of London.
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Johnson, Ching-Yin Yeung 楊政賢 @hkjohnsonyeung.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
I often feel powerlessness. But in transnational we have the power to narrate our struggle and own our stories - a building block for us to envision an alternative to the status quo and movement building. Thanks @insightmyanmar.bsky.social team for the conversation.
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Austin Ramzy @austinramzy.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
China on Wednesday released three Americans who have been imprisoned there for years, marking the successful conclusion of an effort by the Biden administration to secure their freedom. www.wsj.com/world/china/...
wsj.com
China Releases Three American Prisoners in Swap With U.S.
The releases marked a successful conclusion of an effort by the Biden administration to secure their freedom.
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Eric Lai 黎恩灝 @ericyhlai.bsky.social · 23/11/2024
Eric Lai at Georgetown Center for Asian Law said Jimmy Lai’s evidence showed “that the charge of colluding with foreign forces under the NSL was so broad and unreasonable that [it]criminalises ordinary exchange and communications activities with [people]overseas”. www.theguardian.com/world/2024/n...
theguardian.com
Jimmy Lai trial: key points from media mogul’s testimony on first day
Detained pro-democracy activist spoke for first time about charges against him under Hong Kong national security law
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