Jimmy Lai returns to prison in HK after day in court

Prominent Hong Kong democracy vocate and newspaper founder Jimmy Lai returned to court Monday to contest an attempt by government to keep him in jail while facing charges under a sweeping new national security law.No verdict was announced following hearing and Lai remained in custody.

Lai was brought to Court of Final Appeal in a prison van and entered through an inflatable tunnel as large numbers of journalists sought to capture scene.

Lai was arrested last month in a sweep against pro-democracy activists accused over ir involvement in 2019 anti-government protests. First refused bail, Lai was released on appeal, leing to attacks on Hong Kong's judiciary by ruling Communist Party newspaper People’s Daily.He was returned to jail on New Year's Eve ahe of a new hearing.

Hong Kong has jailed several pro-democracy activists in recent months, including student protest leers Joshua Wong and Agnes Chow, for ir involvement in anti-government protests. national security law was imposed on Hong Kong by Beijing after city's local legislature was unable to overcome opposition to its enactment.

Opponents see law as a betrayal of China's pledge to maintain city's legal, civil and human rights for 50 years after its handover from British colonial rule in 1997. law criminalizes acts of subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign powers to intervene in city’s affairs, effectively curbing most opposition political activity and subjecting private speech and social media postings to possible criminal punishment. Serious offenders could face up to life imprisonment.Lai, 72, me his fortune in retail clothing tre before branching out into media. He stepped down as publisher of Apple Daily newspaper but publication remains a popular forum for opposition views in a media landscape dominated by Beijing-backed outlets.