Jimmy Lai is doing better than expected as the founder of Apple Daily and long-time critic of the Chinese Communist Party digs in for a five-month spell in custody before his April court hearing on conspiracy to fraud charges, said his two sons, after they visited the 73-year-old on Sunday.

Lai’s sons made the 90-minute visit to Lai Chi Kok Detention Centre with Cardinal Joseph Zen at 8 a.m., on the fourth day of the pro-democracy campaigner’s detention after he was denied bail.

“In general he is okay. He was reading and doing some exercises. He is doing better than we expected,” his sons said.

They brought him a copy of the Bible, and let him know that he was recently awarded the 17th Wei Jingsheng Chinese Democracy Champion Prize, which recognizes people who have made great contributions to the cause of Chinese democracy.

Lai’s sons said they requested that he be allowed to read Apple Daily in the detention center, but that correctional services had not yet given an answer.

Cardinal Zen also said Lai was “doing well and had no problems.” He spent the visit reading the Bible with Lai.

Lai has also continued to receive a flood of letters from well-wishers. An email from veteran commentator Paul Lin and his wife said that Lai had “spent his whole life fighting for justice in China.”

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