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George Orwell famously said, “If freedom means something, it means the right to tell people what they don't want to hear.” On World Reporter's Freedom Day, we must remember those who lost their freedom fighting for this right.
His father, Jimmy Lye, is one such man. He is currently at Stanley's largest security prison in Hong Kong, facing potential life in prison simply to reveal what Chinese authorities don't want to hear.
His story is one of extraordinary transformation and unwavering beliefs. After fleeing communist China, he arrived in Hong Kong at the age of 12, and began his journey as a child worker in a clothing factory, enduring difficulties and poverty.
Sebastian Lye, along with her father Jimmy, was one of ten journalists detained in a Hong Kong prison, some of whom worked at Apple Daily. (Fox News)
However, through grit and vision, he rose from factory workers to factory managers and used his savings to buy a garment factory that had been bankrupt by 1975. This bold move laid the foundation for his first great success. Giordano is a clothing chain that has grown into an international brand with thousands of employees and stores in Asia.
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The 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre marked a turning point for him. Witnessing the brutal oppression of democratic protesters, he redirected the life work from business to activism, determined to fight for freedom and human rights in Hong Kong.
In 1995 he founded Apple Daily. This became a beacon of free speech and democracy, criticising the Chinese Communist Party and not afraid to expose corruption. His father poured his $100 million in his fortune into the venture, securing the independence of his papers and fearless reporting.
His media empire, including the upcoming magazine and Apple Daily, became the megaphone for Hong Kong's democratic movement, bringing together citizens and challenging the authorities. His outspoken criticism of Beijing and unwavering support for protesters targeted him.
Sebastien Lai is taking a photo of Jimmy Lai, the father of human rights and democracy at the 2025 Geneva Summit. (un monitoring)
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The CCP named him “troublemaker” and his business faced retaliation, including the closure of his Beijing Giordano store after a controversial column. But he never wavered. They use both high and popular content to spread the message of freedom by saying, “Information is choice, and choice is freedom.”
His commitment to principles sets him apart from other big names. Many business leaders in Hong Kong chose to silence or compromise, but he stood alone and endured threats, arrests and ultimately imprisonment for his beliefs. In 2014 he was arrested during a protest against the Democratic Umbrella Movement, and in 2020 my father was again detained under the Draconia National Security Act as Beijing strengthened his grip in Hong Kong.
Despite the risks, he refused to escape and chose to remain in Hong Kong and continue his beliefs.
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My father's life is a testament to the power of belief. He's more than just a businessman or media tycoon. He is a symbol of freedom and hope for many. His outsider status gave him the power to play by his own rules and challenge the status quo as an immigrant who never fits in at all.
Hong Kong media giant Jimmy Lye, Centre, founded the Apple newspaper every day, but was arrested by a police officer at his home in Hong Kong on April 18, 2020. (AP Photo/Vincentuu, File)
Despite his wealth and influence, he remains a deep man of husband, father and Catholicism. We miss his booming voice and the loud laughter around our dinner table. We long for the day when we can share our meals again and pray together again.
Over the past few months, President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have publicly stated their commitment to ensuring fathers' freedom, consistent with the president's prioritization of release of people detained abroad. He has secured the release of 14 prisoners since taking office in January.
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My father is fortunate to have deep, bipartisan support in this country and abroad. The United States and the UK, as well as Canada and the EU parliament, are seeking his immediate and unconditional release. He has received numerous awards for courage and will be awarded the Bradley Award on his behalf in Washington on May 29th. But he remains in prison.
My father is one of ten journalists and is still in custody in a Hong Kong prison. He may be the most well-known of them, but all of these journalists fought for the right to speak truth against power and to protect their way of life.
Their courage reminds us that freedom is never guaranteed – it often has to be fought at a great personal cost. The rebellion of the Father in the face of overwhelming power, his willingness to sacrifice everything for his principles, and his belief in the dignity of all individuals, makes him a real hero of our time.
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At age 77, he spent the past four years in the biggest security prison for these beliefs. His legacy endures as a beacon of hope, indicating that only one courage can change the course of history.
The end of my father's story has not yet been written. On this day of the World Press Freedom Day, I appeal to all who value freedom of speech to join our battle to ensure the release of my father, so that he can leave Hong Kong and spend his old age with his family.
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