For Immediate Release:Statement from Visual Artists Guild to be presented on February 14, 2026 in front of the Consulate of the Peoples' Republic of China in Los Angeles.
Visual Artists Guild condemns the 20-year prison sentence imposed on February 9 on Jimmy Lai, a Hong Kong media entrepreneur who stood up for freedom of the press and freedom of speech.
Mr. Lai's prosecution was brought under the Hong Kong National Security Lawwhich Beijing imposed on Hong Kong and which took effect on June 30, 2020.
Mr. Lai’s trial was initially scheduled for December 2022 but was postponed to December 2023 so the Hong Kong government can manipulate the law to guarantee the conviction of Mr. Lai.
Under Hong Kong's Constitution, the Basic Law of Hong Kong with the British common law system it preserves, it has long allowed for the participation of foreign lawyers and judges. However, the Hong Kong government deliberately tried every methods to ensure that Mr. Lai would not get a fair trial.
When Mr. Lai asked to have British lawyer, Timothy Owen to represent him, the Hong Kong government objected.
In November 2022 Hong Kong's Court of Final Appeal ruled that the current law would allow Mr. Owen to represent Mr. Lai.
However, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee refused to accept the court's rulings and requested Beijing to interpret the National Security Law. What John Lee did was to make a mockery of the Hong Kong judicial system. In Hong Kong's Cantonese colloquial language, it was like asking the Dai Lo (Big Brother of the Mafia Triad) to intervene. As a result of Beijing's interpretation, foreign lawyers and judges were barred from participating in national security cases.
In March 2024, Hong Kong legislators passed local national security legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law, which grants additional powers to the Chief Executive in appointing judges in national security cases.
Further Mr. Lai was not granted a trial by jury which is a fundamental feature of the Basic Law of Hong Kong and Hong Kong's long standing common law traditions.
Most glaringly is that the prosecution’s case which relied on alleged actions and speeches by Mr. Lai that took place prior to June 30, 2020—the date the Hong Kong National Security Law came into effect.
This retroactive application of criminal law runs counter to Hong Kong's Common Law systems and international legal standards—NO CRIME WITHOUT LAW: Individuals should not be prosecuted for conduct that was not criminal at the time it occurred.
The case of Mr. Lai is a travesty of justice and should be universally condemned.
We therefore call for the immediate and unconditional release of Jimmy Lai.
We further urge the United States government to impose sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act on officials responsible for Mr. Lai's prosecution and sentence.
Mr. Lai is a devout Catholic. Please pray for Jimmy Lai.
Submitted by Ann Lau
Chair, Visual Artists Guild
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