The daughter of Jimmy Lai, the pro-democracy tycoon jailed in Hong Kong, has expressed concerns about her father's deteriorating health in prison, indicating that his fingernails sometimes fall off and his teeth are rotting.
Lai, 78, has been detained since December 2020 and faces life in prison. Earlier this month he was convicted of colluding with foreign forces under the city's controversial national security law (NSL).
Chinese authorities have denied that Lai has been mistreated in prison, asserting he is in good health.
The BBC has reviewed a letter from Lai's family urging UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to advocate for his release during an upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
His daughter Claire, currently in exile in London, conveyed her fears that she may never see him again. She expressed her concern, stating she hopes her father doesn't become a martyr for the cause he represents.
Describing Lai as extremely robust and strong before imprisonment, she revealed that over the past year he has lost a significant amount of weight, is diabetic, and has developed heart issues. Claire added, He has fingernails that turn purplish grey and sometimes fall off. He has teeth that are rotting. He has back and waist pains, making it painful for him to stand or get out of bed some days.
Lai's family has repeatedly raised alarms about his health, with his son Sebastien stating earlier this year that his father's body is breaking down.
In response, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry claimed that Lai's lawful rights and interests have been fully protected, and he is in good health, asserting that he is provided with a safe and humane custodial environment.
Lai, a UK citizen, is the most notable individual charged under the NSL, enacted in response to mass pro-democracy protests in 2020. While Beijing defends the law for maintaining stability, critics claim it effectively outlaws dissent.
Convicted of lobbying foreign governments for sanctions against Hong Kong and China, Lai was also found guilty of publishing seditious materials in his now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper.
The UK has condemned Lai's conviction as politically motivated, urging the repeal of the NSL and an end to prosecutions under it. Chinese authorities, however, criticized Western attempts to influence judicial outcomes as hypocritical.
Starmer's forthcoming visit to China would mark the first trip by a UK Prime Minister since 2018.
