A political prisoner fights for free speech in China | Mark Clifford | Reason Interview

The former editor in chief of the South China Morning Post discusses his book on Jimmy Lai, who is currently on trial in Hong Kong for having the audacity to stand up to the government.

1:01—Who is Jimmy Lai?
2:14—Lai’s dramatic journey to Hong Kong
4:50— Lai’s astounding business success in Hong Kong
5:15— Lai’s turn towards politics after June 4, 1989
6:06— The Lai family during the Cultural Revolution in China
8:40— Lai’s difficult relationship with his father
10:37— Lai’s gradual political awakening
14:47— Lai’s foray into publishing
18:42— Lai’s newspaper and magazine promoted free speech & democracy
20:51— How the Chinese government tried to intimidate Lai
25:00— Lai’s political activism & The Umbrella Movement
28:12— Mass protests and CCP crackdowns in Hong Kong
32:28— How meeting with Pence, Bolton, and Pompeo got Lai arrested
35:10— Lai’s grim fate and future
38:47— Lai’s prison life and friendship with Natan Sharansky
48:28— Clifford’s career in Asia
52:18— How Clifford got out of Hong Kong
54:18— Why people should care about Jimmy Lai
55:18— The global free speech recession

Today's guest is Mark Clifford, former editor in chief of the South China Morning Post whose recent book, The Troublemaker, chronicles the life of Jimmy Lai, a man who escaped mainland Communist China to Hong Kong as a child and went on to become a self-made billionaire. But now at age 77, Lai is a political prisoner, currently on trial in China for his unwavering criticism of the government, particularly as it relates to a pro-democracy publication he founded called Apple Daily. Clifford and Reason's Billy Binion talked about Lai's humble beginnings; his cinematic escape to freedom; his fearless pro-democracy activism; his life in prison, where he's held in solitary confinement; and the importance of safeguarding free expression around the world.