Jimmy Lai says Hong Kong ‘beyond redemption’ after national security law took effect

Lai said on Wednesday he would not deliberately violate the security law because he felt the legislation had made it impossible to counter Beijing’s encroachment on Hongkongers’ freedoms.

“If the fight becomes illegal, there’s no room to fight anyway,” he told West Kowloon Court. “It’s like Hong Kong right now, who would fight?”

In the video interview, Lai described the security law as Hong Kong’s “doomsday” and declared he would “resist until the end” despite the risk of incarceration and death.

His testimony was then briefly interrupted by applause from a woman in the public gallery. She was escorted out of the court building by police, who did not take any immediate follow-up action.