Trump pledge to get Jimmy Lai out of Hong Kong jail condemned by top government adviser

Top Hong Kong government adviser Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee has said any request to release former media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying from jail will amount to interference in the city’s rule of law, after US President-elect Donald Trump earlier pledged to get him out of the country.

“The United States has often called for Jimmy Lai’s release, but this is completely contrary to the rule of law because the case is now being tried by our independent court,” Ip, convenor of the government’s key decision-making Executive Council, said on Friday.

“It is impossible for Hong Kong to violate the rule of law. Such a request is an interference with our rule of law.”

Lai, founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily tabloid newspaper, is behind bars in the maximum-security Stanley Prison awaiting the resumption of his high-profile national security trial. He is expected to take the witness box later this month to defend himself against foreign collusion and sedition charges.

In an interview with conservative podcast host Hugh Hewitt in October, Trump was asked whether he would speak to Chinese President Xi Jinping to get Lai out of the country if he won the November 5 presidential election.

“One hundred per cent, yes,” Trump said. “I’ll get him out. He’ll be easy to get out. But we don’t have people that even talk about it.”

Ip’s remarks echoed those made by Secretary of Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok on the same day when asked about Trump’s pledge.