On Wednesday, September 16^th, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), will chair a congressional hearing examining the imprisonment of Hong Kong media entrepreneur and democracy advocate Jimmy Lai and what his case reveals about the continued erosion of freedom of the press, judicial independence, and the rule of law in Hong Kong.

                Given the planned summit between President Trump and General Secretary Xi Jinping, the hearing will underscore the appeal from Jimmy Lai’s children to Xi Jinping for their father’s immediate release and examine the broader implications of Lai’s continued imprisonment.

WHAT: Congressional hearing on the unjust, politically motivated imprisonment of Jimmy Lai, as well as what additional steps Congress, the Administration, and international partners can take to secure his release and hold accountable the officials responsible for undermining internationally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms.

WHEN: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 9:30 AM

WITNESSES: (Partial list)

• Sebastien Lai, Son of Jimmy Lai; Leader, #FreeJimmyLai Campaign
• Steve Yates, Senior Research Fellow for China and National Security and Chung Ju Yung Fellow, The Heritage Foundation
• Mark L. Clifford, President, Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation; Author of The Troublemaker, a biography of Jimmy Lai

WHERE: 2255 Rayburn House Office Building and livestreamed here

WHO: Co-Chairman Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman Dan Sullivan (R-AK), other members of the CECC, and witnesses

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