Overview
For this episode, we’re presenting the final evening plenary from Acton University 2022. This plenary was a panel discussion on Hong Kong medial mogul and pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai, the subject of Acton’s most recent documentary feature film, The Hong Konger: Jimmy Lai’s Extraordinary Struggle for Freedom.
When Hong Kong’s basic freedoms come under attack, Jimmy Lai finds himself in the crosshairs of the state and must choose between defending Hong Kong’s long-standing liberties or his own freedom. This conversation with the filmmakers and interview subjects of The Hong Konger discusses the rise of China, the plight of Hong Kong, the fight for freedom that continues there to this day, and the man at the center of it all: Jimmy Lai.
The featured panelists are:
● Victoria Tin-bor Hui, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Notre Dame
● Mary Kissel, Former Senior Adviser, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
● Simon Lee, Former Op/Ed Columnist, Apple Daily
● Rev. Robert A. Sirico, President Emeritus, Acton Institute, and Executive Producer, THE HONG KONGER
● Eric Kohn, moderator and Director of Marketing & Communications, Acton Institute, and Associate Producer, THE HONG KONGER
Jimmy Lai is currently sitting in a jail cell in Hong Kong awaiting trial on national security law charges. Recently, Lai was granted permission to be represented by a UK barrister in the trial, human rights attorney Tim Owen. That decision to allow Owen to represent Lai is being appealed to Beijing for “clarification.” The trail, which was supposed to start on December 1st has been delayed until December 13, and will almost certainly be delayed even further into the future.
The Hong Konger: Jimmy Lai's Extraordinary Struggle for Freedom.
