Pompeo calls for Jimmy Lai's release, says 'Hong Kong becoming China-run communist city'

United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday slammed China for imprisonment of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai under controversial National Security Law. Pompeo said that Hong Kong is becoming just ar Chinese-run Communist city as he called for immediate release of Jimmy Lai. Pompeo said that Hong Kong's National Security Law is making a mockery of justice and is punishing Jimmy Lai for speaking truth about Communist Party of China. 

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"Jimmy Lai is a true patriot.  He cares deeply about people of Hong Kong, as does our ministration.  This is ar example where General Secretary Xi Jinping broke a promise.  He me a 50-year commitment for freedom for people of Hong Kong and he’s w bashed it.  He’s w taken it away with his national security law that caused imprisonment of Jimmy Lai, who was simply trying to speak about basic rights for people of Hong Kong," Pompeo said while speaking with Rob Schmitt of Newsmax. 

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Lai denied bail

Jimmy Lai, who is founder of clothing company Giorda and popular newspaper Apple Daily, has been jailed under draconian National Security Law for supporting pro-democracy camp. 72-year-old businessman-turned social activist has been under custody since August this year as he was arrested a month after Beijing passed National Security Law in Hong Kong. Lai was denied bail by a Hong Kong court on Saturday as he was spotted being escorted handcuffed and chained.

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China has garnered a lot of flak from international community since it passed controversial National Security Law on June 30, 2020. So far, several social activists, mostly pro-democracy vocates, accused of endangering China's national security have been charged under law. United States and several or western nations, including Britain, former coloniser of Hong Kong, have strongly condemned implementation of law, which sparked widespre protests in city. 

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