Update · Dec 21, 2025, 08:47 AMUnverifiable
The U.S. Department of State's official website is currently inaccessible due to technical difficulties, preventing verification of the statement urging authorities to release Mr. Lai on humanitarian grounds. Without access to the official release, it's impossible to confirm the accuracy of the statement. Therefore, the claim is unverifiable at this time.
Update · Dec 21, 2025, 07:36 AMUnverifiable
The statement "We urge the authorities to bring this ordeal to an end as soon as possible and to release Mr. Lai on humanitarian grounds." is attributed to the U.S. Department of State's press release dated December 15, 2025. However, the provided link to the press release is currently inaccessible due to technical difficulties, preventing verification of the statement's authenticity. Therefore, the claim cannot be verified at this time.
Update · Dec 21, 2025, 06:51 AMUnverifiable
The statement "We urge the authorities to bring this ordeal to an end as soon as possible and to release Mr. Lai on humanitarian grounds" is attributed to the U.S. Department of State's press release dated December 15, 2025, regarding the verdict in the Jimmy Lai case. However, the official website of the U.S. Department of State is currently experiencing technical difficulties, preventing access to the full text of the press release. Without access to the original document, it is impossible to verify the accuracy of the statement. Therefore, the claim is unverifiable at this time.
Update · Dec 21, 2025, 05:43 AMUnverifiable
The statement "We urge the authorities to bring this ordeal to an end as soon as possible and to release Mr. Lai on humanitarian grounds." is attributed to the U.S. Department of State's press release dated December 15, 2025, regarding the verdict in Jimmy Lai's case. However, the official website of the U.S. Department of State is currently inaccessible due to technical difficulties, preventing verification of the statement's authenticity. Therefore, the claim cannot be verified at this time.
Update · Dec 21, 2025, 04:55 AMUnverifiable
The U.S. Department of State's official website is currently experiencing technical difficulties, preventing access to the press release regarding the verdict in Jimmy Lai's case. Without access to the original statement, it's impossible to verify the accuracy of the claim that the Department urged authorities to release Mr. Lai on humanitarian grounds. Therefore, the statement cannot be verified at this time.
Update · Dec 21, 2025, 04:13 AMUnverifiable
The U.S. Department of State's official website is currently experiencing technical difficulties, preventing access to the specific release regarding Jimmy Lai's case. Without access to the official statement, it's impossible to verify the accuracy of the claim that the U.S. government urged authorities to release Mr. Lai on humanitarian grounds. Therefore, the statement cannot be confirmed or refuted based on available information.
Update · Dec 21, 2025, 02:44 AMUnverifiable
The U.S. Department of State's official website is currently experiencing technical difficulties, preventing access to the specific release regarding Jimmy Lai's case. Without access to the official statement, it's challenging to verify the accuracy of the claim that the U.S. government urged authorities to release Mr. Lai on humanitarian grounds. Therefore, the statement cannot be verified at this time.
Update · Dec 20, 2025, 11:36 PMUnverifiable
The U.S. Department of State's official website is currently experiencing technical difficulties, preventing access to the specific press release regarding Jimmy Lai's case. Without access to the original statement, it's impossible to verify the accuracy of the claim that the Department urged authorities to release Mr. Lai on humanitarian grounds. Therefore, the claim is unverifiable at this time.
Update · Dec 20, 2025, 08:34 AMin_progress
The U.S. Department of State has called for the immediate release of Jimmy Lai on humanitarian grounds, urging authorities to end his ordeal as soon as possible. Lai, a 78-year-old pro-democracy activist and former media mogul, was convicted in a Hong Kong national security trial on December 15, 2025, facing potential life imprisonment. His daughter, Claire Lai, has appealed for his release, stating he would focus on his faith and family rather than activism if freed. (
apnews.com) International organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have also called for his release, citing concerns over press freedom and human rights. (
amnesty.org) Given the evolving nature of this situation, further developments are anticipated.
Update · Dec 19, 2025, 07:24 AMin_progress
The U.S. Department of State has called for the release of Jimmy Lai on humanitarian grounds, urging authorities to end his ordeal promptly. However, the Hong Kong government has publicly stated that Lai's detention and the freezing of his assets are legal and consistent with the Hong Kong National Security Law. (
info.gov.hk) Given the conflicting positions and the lack of comprehensive information, the accuracy of the statement remains uncertain.
Update · Dec 18, 2025, 09:51 PMin_progress
The U.S. Department of State has not publicly issued a statement urging the release of Jimmy Lai on humanitarian grounds. The official website currently displays a "technical difficulties" message, preventing access to the specific release. However, other sources indicate that the U.S. government has expressed concern over Lai's conviction and imprisonment. For instance, the G7 foreign ministers condemned Lai's prosecution and called for his immediate release. (
reuters.com) Additionally, Lai's son has urged the UK government to make his father's release a precondition for strengthening relations with China. (
reuters.com) Given the lack of direct access to the State Department's statement, the claim that the U.S. government has urged Lai's release on humanitarian grounds is plausible but cannot be fully verified at this time.
Update · Dec 18, 2025, 09:47 PMin_progress
The U.S. Department of State has a policy for requesting clemency, pardon, amnesty, or release of U.S. citizens incarcerated abroad on humanitarian grounds, considering factors such as the prisoner's health and family circumstances. (
fam.state.gov) However, there is no publicly available evidence indicating that the U.S. government has formally urged Hong Kong authorities to release Jimmy Lai on humanitarian grounds. The U.S. has expressed concern over his conviction and imprisonment, but specific calls for his release on humanitarian grounds have not been documented. Therefore, the statement that "authorities should bring this ordeal to an end as soon as possible and release Mr. Lai on humanitarian grounds" cannot be fully verified based on the available information.
Update · Dec 18, 2025, 07:22 PMin_progress
The U.S. Department of State has urged authorities to release Jimmy Lai on humanitarian grounds, citing his deteriorating health and prolonged solitary confinement. Lai, a 78-year-old Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy activist, was found guilty of sedition and collusion charges under Hong Kong's national security law. He faces a possible life sentence and has been in custody for over five years, with his health reportedly declining. (
reuters.com) The U.S. Department of State has a policy of advocating for the release of U.S. citizens incarcerated abroad on humanitarian grounds, considering factors such as the prisoner's health and family circumstances. (
fam.state.gov) However, the U.S. Department of State's website is currently experiencing technical difficulties, preventing access to the specific statement regarding Jimmy Lai. Given the current technical issues and the evolving nature of international relations, the situation remains in progress.
Update · Dec 18, 2025, 07:33 AMcomplete
On December 15, 2025, the U.S. State Department issued a statement urging Hong Kong authorities to "bring this ordeal to an end as soon as possible and to release Mr. Lai on humanitarian grounds." (
theguardian.com) This aligns with similar calls from international leaders and organizations, including U.S. President Donald Trump, who spoke to President Xi Jinping about Lai's release, and the European Union, which condemned the conviction and called for Lai's immediate and unconditional release. (
aljazeera.com) Therefore, the statement accurately reflects the position of the U.S. State Department and other international entities.
Update · Dec 17, 2025, 03:05 PMin_progress
The U.S. Department of State has urged Hong Kong authorities to release Jimmy Lai on humanitarian grounds, citing his deteriorating health after prolonged solitary confinement. However, the official statement is currently inaccessible due to technical difficulties on the Department's website. Reuters reports that Lai, 78, has been found guilty of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and publishing seditious material, facing a possible life sentence. (
reuters.com)
Update · Dec 17, 2025, 08:46 AMin_progress
The U.S. Department of State has called for the immediate and unconditional release of Jimmy Lai, a pro-democracy activist and founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper in Hong Kong. Lai, 78, was convicted on December 15, 2025, of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and publishing seditious material under Hong Kong's national security law. He faces a potential life sentence. (
reuters.com) The Department of State's official statement on this matter is currently inaccessible due to technical difficulties. However, the U.S. government has consistently advocated for Lai's release on humanitarian grounds, citing his deteriorating health and the politically motivated nature of his prosecution. (
foreign.senate.gov)
Update · Dec 17, 2025, 03:18 AMin_progress
The U.S. Department of State has urged Hong Kong authorities to release Jimmy Lai on humanitarian grounds, citing his deteriorating health after prolonged solitary confinement. However, Hong Kong leader John Lee discussed Lai's conviction with Chinese President Xi Jinping, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding national security. The Chinese government has not indicated any intention to release Lai. (
reuters.com)
Original article · Dec 15, 2025