Jimmy Lai
Former Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai is sentenced for 20 years for breaching the national security law, according to the court's verdict yesterday.
Jimmy Lai's Apple Daily is famous for supporting the democratic movement and democrats in Hong Kong. This is the political force which can be traced back to the 90s, when Hong Kong people opposed the June Fourth crackdown in Tiananmen in 1989 and to fight against the Chinese government's aim to jeopardize Hong Kong's freedom.
Jimmy Lai is always a controversial figure, even in the eyes of democratic movement supporters: his Apple Daily is full of gossips, tablet-style news articles, and look down on the new generation of democratic movement which emphasizes on local identity of Hong Kong or even calling for Hong Kong independence instead of embracing Chinese nationalism or fighting for Chinese democracy.
However, as a Hongkonger, it is undeniable that Lai not only supporting democratic movement with his wealth, which nearly no tycoons are dare to do so, but he also sacrifices his freedom and safety now. In short, he "crucifies" himself. And it is absolutely unreasonable for him to be jailed for 20 years for hurting no one but only the regime of a country.
This is Hong Kong and it is just absurd for us to witness all these.