British PM asks Trump to bring up Jimmy Lai with Xi
The British delegation said the Hong Kong dissident could live in the United Kingdom, a person familiar with the situation said.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham urged President Donald Trump to mention imprisoned Hong Kong dissident Jimmy Lai during a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday, according to two sources. Burnham requested this during a meeting with Trump, who stated he agreed that Lai should be released, said one of the sources. The British delegation proposed that Lai could reside in the United Kingdom, the source added.
A Hong Kong court sentenced Lai, a former media tycoon, to 20 years in prison on sedition charges this year. Trump brought up Lai's case in May when he met with Xi in Beijing, but the Chinese leader has not indicated whether he is willing to grant his release. The White House and Downing Street have not yet commented on the matter.
Lai has garnered international attention for his imprisonment, which human rights advocates argue is due to his strong support for democracy. Trump has stated that Xi is hesitant to free Lai because he allegedly "caused a lot of bedlam" in Hong Kong.
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