Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai denied bail as Pompeo tweets support

HONG KONG — Jimmy Lai, the 73-year-old Hong Kong media tycoon and advocate for democracy, was denied bail Saturday, after being charged the previous day under the territory’s new national security law.

Lai faces a charge of collusion with foreign elements to endanger national security, apparently for tweets he made and interviews or commentaries he gave to foreign media.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted Saturday morning Asia time that the security law “makes a mockery of justice.” He called for Lai’s immediate release, saying his only crime was speaking the truth about China’s authoritarian Communist Party government.