Dear Chairman Risch and Mast, and Ranking Member Shaheen and Meeks:
We write as Hong Kong community organizations in the United States and international NGOs to urge swift Congressional action in response to the recent guilty verdict against Jimmy Lai and the continued imprisonment of six other Apple Daily executives in Hong Kong.
Last week, Mr. Lai was convicted of “colluding with foreign forces” and “conspiracy to publish seditious materials” based on his journalism, peaceful advocacy, and ordinary engagement with U.S. and other government officials as a publisher and businessman. The 855-page judgment cites interactions with President Trump, Secretary Rubio, Members of Congress, and other political figures as evidence of “foreign collusion.” President Trump’s name appears 197 times, and there are numerous other mentions of interactions with U.S. officials and Members of Congress. These meetings and communications are being used as reasons to persecute and jail Mr. Lai. No one should be jailed for merely talking to U.S. government officials, and strong actions are needed to show the Chinese and Hong Kong governments that this will not be tolerated in the U.S.-China relationship.
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