Hong Kong warns against external interference in Lai's trial

The Hong Kong government has issued a warning to outside parties regarding the trial of Jimmy Lai Chee-ying. This caution came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described freeing Lai from prison as a “priority.” On Thursday evening, a government spokesperson stated that any attempts by countries or organizations to interfere with Hong Kong's judicial process would harm the city’s rule of law. The spokesperson emphasized that advocating for certain individuals to avoid legal consequences disrupts the rule of law. Marco Rubio had remarked earlier in the week on a podcast that securing Lai's release is essential. Lai is the former owner of the closed tabloid newspaper Apple Daily. Rubio mentioned that the US is committed to raising the issue repeatedly with other nations, underscoring its importance.