Arresting Press bosses is something authoritarian governments do

Jimmy Lai, boss of Apple Daily
at the Lai Chi Kok Detention Centre

Some people are happy Jimmy Lai, founder of the Apple Daily, is in detention. He “deserves” it because he’s in America’s pay, or too much of a rabble rouser. And for sure he’s a bit of a jerk. I’ve never really liked him. But you don’t arrest people because you don’t like them. Or because they rabble rouse. Or because they criticise you.

It’s never good to arrest and deny bail to members of the media. The last to do so before Hong Kong was Ukraine. And done here under the new National Security Law foisted on us because of the wanton destruction, the crazy calls for independence by the “freedom fighters” last year. Before their antics we had full unfettered freedom of the press and Jimmy Lai for all his jerk-dom, would never have been marching to jail. 

Another “not good thing” for Hong Kong. Shame on the government, shame on Beijing. 

By the way, I used to visit a mate in the same detention centre once a week for several months. Visiting is very strictly controlled. You can only speak to the detainee through a bulletproof glass screen using a phone hand set. Kind of maximum security. This guy told me “everyone in here is innocent. I’m the only guilty one”.