The United States and Britain have called for the immediate release of pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai, shortly before his trial in Hong Kong on Monday, where he faces life in prison on charges of “collusion with foreign powers”, AFP and Agerpres note.

“We call on the authorities in Beijing and Hong Kong to respect press freedom in Hong Kong,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement on Sunday.

“We call on the Hong Kong authorities to immediately release Jimmy Lai and all other people imprisoned for defending their rights.”

The tycoon, whose trial begins Monday in Hong Kong, is accused of “collusion with foreign powers” among other attacks on national security.

Lai, who just turned 76, was jailed for three years under a sweeping national security law introduced by Beijing in 2020, a year after massive pro-democracy demonstrations.

“The United States condemns the prosecution in Hong Kong of pro-democracy advocate and media owner Jimmy Lai under the PRC’s (People’s Republic of China) national security law,” Matthew Miller added.

The court, which is to be held in public for the next 80 days, should allow to assess the level of civil liberties in Hong Kong and the independence of the judiciary from Beijing.

The owner of Apple Daily, which closed in 2021, is one of the most prominent figures in the pro-democracy movement.

His magazine, strongly critical of Beijing, supported large-scale pro-democracy demonstrations in 2019 and called for international sanctions against Chinese and local authorities.

His case has sparked outrage and condemnation from the international community, especially the United Kingdom, as Lai is a British citizen.

“Jimmy Lai has been targeted in an apparent attempt to prevent the peaceful exercise of his rights to freedom of expression and association,” British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said in a statement released on Sunday.

Cameron said he was particularly concerned about the “politically motivated prosecution” of the media mogul, calling on Hong Kong authorities to end it and “release Jimmy Lai”.

The pro-democracy activist will be tried without a jury by three judges chosen by the leader of Hong Kong from a group of specially appointed magistrates.