Trump says has asked Xi to release Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai

WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump said Dec 15 he wanted his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to free Jimmy Lai as he voiced sadness over the Hong Kong media mogul’s conviction. “I feel so badly. I spoke to President Xi about it, and I asked to consider his release,” Mr Trump told reporters, without specifying when he asked Mr Xi. “He’s an older man, and he’s not well. So I did put that request out. We’ll see what happens.” Mr Trump had said before he returned to the White House that he wanted to free Lai, a successful businessman who…