If, God forbid, my friend Jimmy Lai dies in a Hong Kong jail, the Church should immediately recognise him as a martyr. For he has been convicted this week by a Hong Kong court for exercising his freedom of conscience and expression – and his sentencing, expected in the New Year, is likely to carry a minimum 10-year prison term and potentially life imprisonment.
At 78 years old, a diabetic, with his health deteriorating, whatever the precise number of years imposed by the judge, it could in effect amount to a life sentence – unless the international community acts to secure his release.
