A prominent pro-democracy activist known as Grandma Wong was blocked from attending the opening of Jimmy Lai’s trial in Hong Kong on Monday.
Alexandra Wong, 67, was seen being cordoned off by officers while holding a British flag outside the heavily guarded courthouse where the media tycoon’s hearing was taking place.
Mr Lai, 76, is facing charges of breaching national security and colluding with foreign forces in a landmark national security trial that is viewed as a litmus test of judicial independence in Hong Kong.
He is the founder of the now-shuttered Chinese-language tabloid Apple Daily, which often criticised Beijing and supported the huge protest movement that roiled the former British colony in 2019.
The newspaper was forced to close in 2021 after authorities used the security law to raid it twice and freeze assets worth HK$18 million (£1.8 million).
Ms Wong was a fixture of the anti-government demonstrations four years ago and has previously been jailed for “disruption to social order” for flag-waving and shouting slogans.
“I support Jimmy Lai because I want truth,” she said on Monday before being led away by police. “People won’t trust us. I wish he can come out soon. I wish to read Apple Daily again.”