[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 212 (Wednesday, December 8, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1335-E1336]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




74TH BIRTHDAY OF JIMMY LAI AND HIS IMPRISONMENT BY CHINESE AUTHORITIES 
                              IN HONG KONG

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 8, 2021

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, Mr. Jimmy Lai, the renowned 
founder of Apple Daily and prominent supporter of democracy, turns 74 
today. A brave Beijing critic and a devout Catholic, Mr. Lai has been 
on the forefront of fighting for press freedom. Consequently, he was 
taken into custody and denied bail by Hong Kong authorities acting at 
the apparent behest of the Chinese Communist Party more than a year 
ago.
  Under the so-called ``national security law,'' Beijing has been 
punishing anything it considers remotely resembling the vague crimes of 
``secession,'' ``subversion,'' ``terrorism'' and ``collusion with 
foreign forces'' with penalties up to life imprisonment. According to 
Joanna Chiu, a former Hong Kong-based journalist who testified before 
the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, international engagement 
including with the United Nations or foreign governments--can now be 
criminalized as ``collusion with foreign forces.''
  Despite deteriorating health and having to spend a second holiday 
season in a cold prison cell since his arrest, Mr. Lai remains 
unbroken. He wrote in a letter from prison in April 2021, ``A 
journalist's responsibility [is] to uphold justice. The era is falling 
apart before us, and it is time for us to stand tall.'' Indeed, he 
stands for something larger than himself.
  Lai's commitment to press freedom and democratic principles began 
long before the national security law was passed. He has been an 
outspoken critic of Beijing's control over Hong Kong and a high-profile 
supporter of the pro-democracy movement. After the 1989 Tiananmen 
Square massacre, Lai became an ardent critic of the Beijing government, 
and left the retail industry where he made his fortune for media and 
politics. He founded Next Media and in 1995, launched Apple Daily, 
which became Hong Kong's most prominent pro-democracy newspaper.
  For his work and unstoppable dedication to democratic values, Mr. Lai 
was just awarded the World Association of News Publishers' highest 
honor for his sacrifice in the cause of press freedom.
  The Golden Pen of Freedom is the Association's annual award 
recognizing individuals or organizations that have made outstanding 
contributions in the defense and promotion of press freedom. We also 
need to remember that there are hundreds of other ``Jimmy Lais'' in 
Hong Kong and beyond, who are determined to stand for freedom of press.
  Indeed, at a hearing of the bipartisan Tom Lantos Human Rights 
Commission that I chaired on October 14 of this year, on the State of 
Civil and Political Rights in Hong Kong, we learned that Hong Kong 
reportedly has more journalists in jail per capita than any other place 
on earth.
  We cannot forget these imprisoned journalists either, and we should 
say their names: Edmund Wan You-sing, Ryan Law, Cheung Kim Hung, Chan 
Pui-man, Lam Man Chung, Fung Wai Kong, Yeung Ching-kee, and Gwyneth Ho.

[[Page E1336]]

  These brave journalists continue to be imprisoned, while others have 
been released on bail awaiting trial.
  We will continue to keep Jimmy in our prayers and urge that he be 
released along with the other Hong Kong journalists and democracy 
advocates unjustly imprisoned.

                          ____________________