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  • The Hong Konger (2022)
  • 74 min | Documentary
The Hong Konger (2022)
74 min | Documentary

Jimmy Lai personifies Hong Kong's entrepreneurial spirit. This spirit, coupled with an embrace of freedom, unleashed economic prosperity for Hong Kongers and made Jimmy a billionaire. Jimmy's native China underwent a similar prosperity by ...See moreJimmy Lai personifies Hong Kong's entrepreneurial spirit. This spirit, coupled with an embrace of freedom, unleashed economic prosperity for Hong Kongers and made Jimmy a billionaire. Jimmy's native China underwent a similar prosperity by undertaking an experiment with personal and economic freedoms, lifting an astounding 800 million Chinese out of poverty. Today, it's a different story-and the stakes couldn't be higher for Jimmy Lai, the citizens of Hong Kong, and the people of China. Jimmy fled Maoist revolutionaries as a 12 year old and began a new life as a simple textile laborer in Hong Kong. Within 30 years he started a fashion house and built Giordano into an enormously successful clothing retail business with thousands of stores worldwide. In reaction to China's 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, Jimmy launched Next Media and published Hong Kong's most successful newspaper, Apple Daily. As guardian of freedom of speech and the press, Apple Daily provided an independent voice for Hong Kong following its 1997 transition from British rule to Chinese control. Reassured by Beijing's "one nation, two systems" approach, much of Hong Kong's prosperity and freedom continued-until a palpable shift occurred under the leadership of Chinese president Xi Jinping. As China retreated from its "one nation, two systems" policy and began installing pro-Beijing leaders in Hong Kong, Jimmy became a leading voice against repressive policies. Jimmy could have fled but he chose to stay, marching alongside millions of his fellow Hong Kongers in defense of freedom and democracy. He was soon arrested and jailed. International banks froze his assets. Apple Daily was raided and key executives arrested. In June 2021, Apple Daily printed its final edition and shut its doors. Today Jimmy perseveres in a Hong Kong prison cell awaiting trial. Featuring Lord Christopher Patten, Rev. Robert Sirico, Mary Kissel, Victoria Hui, Joey Siu, William McGurn, Lord David Alton and others, The Hong Konger chronicles Jimmy's story of heroic sacrifice and symbol of the freedom movement. From his own testimony as well as through exclusive interviews with diplomats, citizen activists, scholars, and friends from across the globe, one thing becomes clear: Jimmy's fate is in our hands. His cause must not die in a prison cell-for freedom is not merely his cause, but the cause of all Hong Kongers, the Chinese people, and indeed all humanity. See less
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Edit Released
Updated May 1, 2022

Release date
May 1, 2022 (Japan)

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Cast

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16 cast members
Name Known for
David Alton
UK House of Lords UK House of Lords   See fewer
Sunny Cheung
Exiled Hong Kong activist Exiled Hong Kong activist   See fewer
Samuel M. Chu
Founder & President of The Campaign for Hong Kong Founder & President of The Campaign for Hong Kong   See fewer
James B. Cunningham
Former Consul General of Hong Kong Former Consul General of Hong Kong   See fewer
Victoria Tin-Bor Hui
Associate Professor for Department of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame Associate Professor for Department of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame   See fewer
Jo Jensen
President of Iron Light Labs President of Iron Light Labs   See fewer
Mary Kissel
Senior Advisor to US Secretary of State (2018-2021) Senior Advisor to US Secretary of State (2018-2021)   See fewer
Jimmy Lai
Actor Actor   See fewer
Simon Lee
Former Op-Ed Columnist at Apple Daily Former Op-Ed Columnist at Apple Daily   See fewer
William McGurn
Columnist at The Wall Street Journal; Friend of Jimmy Lai Columnist at The Wall Street Journal; Friend of Jimmy Lai   See fewer
Chris Patten
Governor of Hong Kong (1992-1997) Governor of Hong Kong (1992-1997)   See fewer
Benedict Rogers
Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Hong Kong Watch Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Hong Kong Watch   See fewer
Mark Simon
Former Executive at Next Digital Former Executive at Next Digital   See fewer
Robert Sirico
Friend of Jimmy Lai Friend of Jimmy Lai   See fewer
Joey Siu
Activist and Policy Advisor of Hong Kong Watch Activist and Policy Advisor of Hong Kong Watch   See fewer
George Weigel
Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center   See fewer
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