(Adds comments from Hong Kong's Secretary for Justice)
HONG KONG, Jan 12 (Reuters) - The home and former offices ofHong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, an outspoken critic of Beijingwho also played a prominent role in large pro-democracy protestslast month, were firebombed early on Monday, a spokesman said.
The first attack took place around 1:30 a.m. local time(1730 GMT Sunday) when a car reversed up to Lai's house andthrew an object that exploded into flames when it hit the gates.
About 20 minutes later, one or two other incendiary deviceswere thrown at the gates of pro-democracy Next Media Ltd.
"This is a continual effort to try to intimidate the pressin Hong Kong," said Next Media spokesman Mark Simon. "This israw and pure intimidation."
Such acts will not be tolerated "no matter what socialstatus or political background, or political views (of anyindividual)," Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen told reporters.
He said police will investigate the firebombing like anyother criminal act.
Some feel that Hong Kong police don't always follow up fullyon acts against the city's democrats or against Apple Daily, andthat culprits are rarely found.
Hong Kong police confirmed they were looking into twoincidents, one at a residence on Kadoorie Avenue in Kowloon andone at the offices of Next Media.
Lai, who stepped down as chairman of Next Media and aspublisher of the Apple Daily tabloid in December, is awell-known critic of Beijing.
He was arrested for refusing to leave a pro-democracyprotest site in central Hong Kong last month as police clearedprotesters who had shut major thoroughfares in the city fortwo-and-a-half months.
A self-made millionaire, Lai is a long-time supporter ofHong Kong's democracy movement. This is not the first time heand Next have come under attack.
In 2013, masked men torched tens of thousands of copies oftwo Apple Daily editions at distribution points.
Last year, Next said HSBC Holdings and StandardChartered pulled millions of dollars worth ofadvertising from Apple Daily after being pressured by Beijing,decisions both banks said were commercial.
Lai's home has also been attacked before, including beingrammed by a car and having a machete, axe, and threateningmessages left in his driveway.
He remains the majority shareholder in Next Media, whichpublishes Next Magazine and the Apple Daily. (Reporting by Clare Baldwin; Additional reporting by JamesPomfret; Editing by Paul Tait and Michael Perry)