Cardinal Zen appeals verdict; new Jimmy Lai trial postponed to 2023 (CNA)

Cardinal Joseph Zen and four co-defendants have appealed the verdict of a Hong Kong court that found them guilty of failing to register a charity that provided support for democracy activists.

And in a related development, publisher and democracy advocate Jimmy Lai, who was recently sentenced last week to a 5-year prison term on one criminal charge, had been informed that his trial on more serious charges of conspiracy against the Chinese government will be postponed until 2023. The long delay is due to the Chinese government’s refusal to extend a visa for Lai’s lawyer, who is British; the government has said that the lawyer represents a risk to national security.