Hong Kong and Chinese authorities say Lai is being given a fair trial. Lai's lawyer Robert Pang, who began his final legal submission on Wednesday, said Lai had been defending and exercising basic rights.

A Hong Kong court heard final arguments Monday in the landmark national security trial of former pro-democracy newspaper founder Jimmy Lai, who could be sentenced to up to life in prison if convicted.

A lawyer representing Jimmy Lai said Wednesday it was "not wrong to support freedom of expression" as the defence began closing arguments in the jailed Hong Kong media mogul's national security trial.