Jimmy Lai's Hong Kong trial delayed over heart problems

The closing submissions in a national security trial against Hong Kong pro-democracy businessman Jimmy Lai have been delayed after his lawyer said he had suffered heart palpitations.

The submissions will recommence on Monday after the court adjourned to allow Lai, 77, to obtain medication and a heart monitor.

Lai, who founded the Apple Daily newspaper that was forced to close after a police raid and asset freeze in June 2021, has pleaded not guilty to two charges of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces, and a charge of conspiracy to publish seditious material.

Some Western governments, including the United States, have called for Lai's immediate release, saying the trial is politically motivated under a years-long national security crackdown in the China-ruled financial hub.

US President Donald Trump said in a media interview on Thursday that he would "do everything I can to save him", even though Chinese President Xi Jinping would not be "thrilled."

"We'll see what we can do ... we're going to do everything we can," Trump said.

Liu Pengyu, spokesman for China's embassy in Washington, said Lai had been "a key orchestrator and participant in anti-China, destabilising activities in Hong Kong".

"We strongly oppose external forces using judicial cases as a pretext to interfere in China's internal affairs or to smear and undermine Hong Kong's rule of law," he said.

Trump has said he would raise Lai's case as part of negotiations with China over trade and tariffs.