Lai, aged 76, was arrested during the city`s crackdown on dissidents subsequent to extensive pro-democracy protests in 2019. He potentially faces life imprisonment if found guilty under Beijing`s expansive national security law. The charges against him include colluding with foreign forces to jeopardize national security and conspiring to publish seditious materials.

Foreign governments, business professionals, and legal scholars are closely monitoring this case. It is closely associated with the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper, Apple Daily, established by Lai. Many perceive this trial as a significant test for judicial autonomy in Hong Kong and a reflection of the city`s freedoms.

Once a former British colony that returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with assurances of retaining Western-style civil liberties for 50 years, Hong Kong has witnessed a decline in these freedoms with the imposition of the national security law. This law has resulted in the detainment and suppression of numerous prominent pro-democracy activists.

The judges overseeing the case heard arguments regarding the prosecution`s adherence to the time limit for charging Lai with sedition. The law mandates sedition charges to be filed within six months of the alleged offence. Ultimately, the judges, government-approved for the trial, ruled in favour of the prosecution, stating that the charge was filed within the stipulated time.

Anticipated to span around 80 days without a jury, the trial remains a significant legal event drawing international attention due to its potential implications on Hong Kong`s political landscape and civil liberties.

Throughout the proceedings, Lai, attired in a navy blazer, displayed calmness and even exchanged smiles with his family upon entering the courtroom.

Criticism of Lai`s prosecution has surfaced from the United States and the United Kingdom. Beijing has condemned these comments, labelling them as irresponsible and contradictory to international law and norms.

Hong Kong, once considered a stronghold of media freedom in Asia, has suffered a significant setback. Reporters Without Borders` World Press Freedom Index ranked the city at 140th out of 180 countries and territories, highlighting a dramatic decline in press freedoms since the imposition of the security law in 2020. Both Hong Kong and China tout the law as a means to restore stability in the city.