“As a distinguished and outspoken journalist and writer, Jimmy Lai has been focused in a transparent try and cease the peaceable train of his rights to freedom of expression and affiliation,” Cameron mentioned in a press release.
“I name on the Hong Kong authorities to finish their prosecution and launch Jimmy Lai.”
Cameron mentioned Hong Kong’s Nationwide Safety Regulation was a “clear breach” of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, which returned Hong Kong from British to Chinese language rule greater than 25 years in the past below a deal guaranteeing a excessive diploma of autonomy, together with freedom of speech, below a “one nation, two programs” system.
“(The nationwide safety legislation) has broken Hong Kong, with rights and freedoms considerably eroded,” Cameron mentioned.
“I urge the Chinese language authorities to repeal the Nationwide Safety Regulation and finish the prosecution of all people charged below it,” he added.
China has previously responded to comparable criticism by accusing Britain of appearing with a colonial mindset.