Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily on Sunday criticized the decision of a Hong Kong judge to grant bail to Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai, saying that the city’s rule of law had been “deeply hurt.”

The People’s Daily editorial called Lai a “serious offender” and said that granting him bail was “unimaginable.” According to the national security law, defendants should not be granted bail unless the judge has sufficient reason to believe they will not continue to endanger national security, the paper said.

“If someone like Lai, who was behind the chaos in Hong Kong, can receive bail, is there anyone who cannot?” the People’s Daily wrote.

Lai, who is charged with colluding with foreign powers under the national security law, was released on HK$10 million (US$1.3 million) bail on Wednesday. High Court judge Alex Lee imposed strict bail conditions including house arrest, as well as a ban on giving interviews, meeting foreign officials and using social media.

People’s Daily also hinted at the possibility of China’s national security office in Hong Kong exercising jurisdiction over Lai’s case — which would transfer the case into mainland China’s criminal justice system.

Chinese authorities should step in if Hong Kong courts cannot “make a fair decision in accordance with law,” the newspaper said, adding that a failure to do so would cause enormous harm to Hong Kong and endanger national security.

“We hope that Hong Kong’s judiciary will strictly enforce the Basic Law and the national security law,” the editorial read.

Sin Chung-kai, a former vice chairperson of the Democratic Party, said the People’s Daily editorial was a “Sword of Damocles” hanging over the head of Hong Kong judges. Beijing is threatening to intervene if judges do not rule in its favor, he told Apple Daily.

“The Chinese Communist Party is using its state apparatus against a newspaper founder. I think this shows how terrified it is,” Sin said.

Lai is scheduled to appear at the Court of Final Appeal on Dec. 31, as Hong Kong’s prosecutors have appealed against the High Court’s decision to grant him bail.

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