Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai says he's overwhelmed by the support he got after becoming the most high-profile person to be arrested under a new national security law and he's urged patience in a "long-term fight" for democracy.
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Lai, a staunch supporter of the city's democracy movement, was arrested on Monday on suspicion of collusion with foreign forces as police raided the offices of his Apple Daily tabloid.
He was released on bail early on Wednesday, and greeted by a throng of supporters chanting "fight till the end".
In a #LiveChatWithJimmy video appearance on Twitter, Lai thanked his supporters and said their action showed the police raid was a "violation of Hong Kong people's belief" in wide-ranging freedoms, which he likened to oxygen.
"The oxygen is getting thin, and we are all choking, but when we're choking we're still taking care of each other and keep resisting and keep fighting for our rule of law and freedom," he said.
Lai, who China sees as a "traitor", was arrested under a new security law imposed by Beijing on June 30 in response to a year of pro-democracy unrest in the former British colony, which returned to China in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" formula aimed at preserving its autonomy.
Lai said pro-democracy activists had to play a long game.
"We cannot be radical, we cannot confront them face-to-face because we're just like an egg and they are a high wall," he said.
"We have to be flexible, and innovative and patient, but persist."
The law punishes whatever China considers subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison.
Since Lai's arrest people have been queuing up early in the morning to buy his Apple Daily, and many have also bought shares in Next Digital, Lai's media company that publishes his newspaper, sparking a rally of more than 2000 per cent at its peak.
Lai called the rise in share price an "ephemeral phenomenon" and urged people "not to touch it".
Australian Associated Press