Jimmy Lai's Health Deteriorates in Prison as Daughter Raises Alarm

Jimmy Lai's Daughter Expresses Concern for His Health

Jimmy Lai, the pro-democracy magnate imprisoned in Hong Kong, is reportedly facing severe health issues, according to his daughter. She raised alarm about his condition, stating that his nails "sometimes fall off" and that his teeth are undergoing decay. Lai, 78, has been detained since December 2020 and risks a life sentence. Earlier this month, he was convicted of collusion with foreign forces under the controversial National Security Law (NSL) implemented in Hong Kong. Authorities in Hong Kong and China have denied any mistreatment, claiming that Lai is in "good health."

Lai's family has written to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, urging him to demand Lai's release during his upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping next month. Claire Lai, his daughter who is in exile in London, expressed her fear that she "might never see him again." She stated, "Of course, I worry that my father will become a martyr, and I don’t want him to be a martyr. But I wouldn’t be here today, I wouldn’t be speaking if I didn’t believe this is our best chance to reunite with our family."

Claire characterized her father as an "extremely robust and strong man" when he entered prison, but noted that he has "lost a significant amount of weight" over the past year. "He has diabetes, heart issues that he didn’t have before, and his nails are turning dark purple and sometimes fall off. His teeth are rotting. He has back and waist pain. On some days, it is painful for him to stand. Sometimes he can’t even stand. And sometimes he can’t even get out of bed," she revealed.

The Lai family has repeatedly raised concerns about his deteriorating health. His son, Sebastien, previously told the BBC that "his body is breaking down." A spokesperson for the Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong stated earlier this month that "Lai's legal rights and interests have been fully protected and he is in good health."

Claire Lai is campaigning for her father's release from prison. Lai, a British citizen, is the most high-profile individual charged under the NSL, which was introduced in 2020 in response to massive pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. Beijing claims that the law is necessary to maintain stability in the region, but critics argue that it effectively ends dissent.