A Hong Kong ‘Troublemaker’ With a Clean Conscience

I don’t understand a bit why liberals say Trump is like Xi. If it’s true , they’d be end up in jail for some ridiculous reason rather than comfortably sitting at home bombarding him online without worrying about the safety of themselves and they families.

Stand your ground. A man can be measured by his enemies. On that basis, I admire and respect you.

I didn't like Apple Daily's tabloid style of reporting but he's a saint when compared to the CCP. Godspeed, Mr. Lai, speak up as loud as you can.

Mr. Lai, sounds like a Hong Kong version of the American Patriot, Thomas Paine. There was always a hope mainland China would evolve into a more Democratic Society, after the "opening" of China, by President Nixon. Unfortunately, it never materialized after Tianamen Square and the Communist Party's brutal repression of the people with their "re-education camps". In large part, these efforts were assisted by American silence and the greed of western Capitalism. Unfortunately, our current President, has little, if any real sympathay for the people of Hong Kong and China. He only cares about himself, his family and profitabilty. So Mr. Lai, don't count on any real material support from America, it won't happen. While "We the People" are currently dealing with our own would be "President for Life". Especially a President, that foolishly walked away from the TPP, that would have provided the U.S. with more leverage that could have been used in negotiations with the China. Not that he would ever really care about Hong Kong, unless there was lots of money in it for him.

For all his wealth, wisdom, and bravery, Mr. Lai is a foolish man if he admires Trump for standing up to China. What we have is one dictator, Mr. Xi, engaged in a fruitless trade war with another dictator-wannabe named Donald Trump. I don't know what sort of favorable outcome Mr. Lai is expecting, but it's pretty obvious that no good will come from this. If Mr. Lai had paid any attention to the subtleties of Charlottesville, he would be more measured in his cheering. The phrase ending in: "...will not replace us" is easily adjusted to include any group of outsiders. I don't believe Asians would be exempt from the hatred in the long run. Mr. Lai should be especially mindful of Trump's attacks on the media, as he is himself a media person trying his best to be a voice for openness and truth. If he thinks Trump is a champion of a free press, he is much mistaken. Mr. Lai seems to have adopted the old mindset that "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." That never works for long. If he is cheering Trump because he believes Trump's actions will somehow forward his dream of seeing China become a democracy, he is sadly mistaken. Trump is not a promulgator of Western Enlightenment values--he's just a bully, much like Mr. Xi. Of course, cheering for a person is not the same as admiring a person. I wish Mr. Lai the best of luck. I wish he would come here and get Americans to find their consciences.

I met Jimmy Lai many years ago. Very interesting guy ... can't say two words without swearing, and thoroughly enjoys being an agent provocateur. Apple Daily made Murdoch's National Star look classy. But I did really like the creative layout, with tawdry cutouts asymmetrically spanned by lurid text. He took on Li Ka-shing in the grocery business, and Li ran him out of town, which is why he ended up in Taiwan. China may be tough on gadflies, but HK is run for the benefit of its tycoons, and you don't want to put a hand in their pocket.

The Chinese measures patriotism not by words but by actions. In what way has Mr. Lai contributed to the well being of Chinese people or the prosperity of the Chinese nation?

Congratulations, Mr. Lai. Keep up the battle against the"dictator" Xi Jinping and thank you for the support of the young Hong Kong protesters. The one thing that President Trump has done better than any other American President is his commercial trade war against the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party. Heretofore, so much money was being made by the American super-rich taking advantage of the trade inequities that nothing could be done politically here in the United States. American people who have lost as a result of the Chinese trade policies have solidly supported Trump and rightfully so for this reason only.

Courageous.

Ironically, he likes Trump, but Trump is exactly the same as Xi Ping and China- dictator.

“China has put much so much energy into demonizing a 71-year-old man” Really? Why are there no link to an actual Chinese article that demonize Mr. Lai. What is the source? Chinese media rarely single out an particular individual for criticism.

Every last scrap of Western media is cheering the hooligans in Hong Kong, but do they tell you that the infamous "Extradition Treaty" (absolutely identical to that proposed in Hong Kong) has already been stipulated by China with Italy and 48 other countries including Spain, France, Portugal, Australia ... A treaty that categorically excludes crimes of opinion and politicians?

May Jimmy Lai see his support of antigovernment protests in Hong Kong bear the fruit of freedom from Beijing's hard communist culture. One country, two systems? May the whole country be under one system (not Xi's Chinese Emperor for Life system). May all of America be under one system (Democracy's, not Trump's).

I sure hope there are more people like him in US, are there any? I hope times can find one and publish a story like this in US

I wish Republican senators had even a fraction of Mr Lai's integrity and spine.

With the correct words and actions, China could have taken to steps to develop the soft power that it craves so badly. This is impossible to do so, however, when its leaders are so far removed from the people that it leads. I don’t know if it’s too late, but certainly a lost opportunity for China if it continues taking a tone-deaf approach.

Thank you very much for this inspiring piece. May we all soon see a free China and world due to the bravery of people who confront unjust power.

Mr. Lai needs to be nominated for a Nobel Prize , ASAP!!

No comparison between Mr Lai and President Xi. Lai is a Chinese patriot: Emperor Xi is a Chinese reactionary.

Wow, what a man, what a fighter. If everyone were 10% as brave as he is, we would topple the world's regimes and dictators and tyrants in no time. Chapeau Jimmy Lai

Kudos to Mr Lai! A man of principal and courage. But he must watch his six-o-clock. Bejing is master of disappearing acts.

Mr Lai is a forward thinking Chinese patriot. The CCP is a reactionary party. Which side will prevail?

A terrific example of the type of guts most (if not all) the business people in the west seriously lack. We need many more like him. Bless you Mr Lai!

This speaks to the loss of freedom and human rights that results under dictators and autocratic leaders throughout the world. Any success that China and Russia have has world powers is because they exploit their citizens and steal money and the riches from the people and use it for the personal enrichment and power of the regime. Denying human rights, murdering or jailing their citizens who speak out against the brutality of the leadership, crushing the free press and journalists who speak truth to power, and militarizing the government are the hallmarks of these societies and it's why so many people want to flee these countries and find a better life in America.

Mr Lai is a hero, a lone fighter for freedom and represents true spirit of the Chinese against dictatorship that has run for many thousand years. This is the reason why he's NEVER a traitor to his nation; he's a genuine patriot who defends not his personal happiness but the conviction that fighting for freedom is not a Western thing; it's also a goal of the Chinese as well as peoples all over the world. A salute to Mr Lai and wish you all the best in your fight.

You have to admire the courage of the people of Hong Kong. The desire for freedom is strong. It's no wonder it frightens the CCP so much.

It is incredibly dismissive and an archaic strategy to try blame the pro-democracy movement on "the CIA". It is more amazing that I know people (generally 60+ years old) who completely who buy into this false propaganda. They refuse to believe that the young and educated might actually desire a free and transparent society where our civic servants actually are accountable to us because we VOTED for them.

I would caution Mr. Lai that Donald Trump does not care one bit about Hong Kong and their struggle with Beijing. What he cares about is looking strong to his base so at this moment in time saying good things about Hong Kong protestors serves that purpose. The second it no longer does he could care less about them. I would suggest they look for support elsewhere.