Hong Kong’s prominent pro-democracy media tycoon, Jimmy Lai, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Monday, concluding the city’s largest national security case in recent history. The verdict stems from convictions on two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one for publishing seditious materials, capping a legal saga that began with Lai’s arrest in August 2020.
The sentence, handed down by three national security judges, falls within the harshest penalty band for offences deemed of a “grave nature.” Lai was identified as the mastermind behind “persistent” foreign collusion conspiracies, which prosecutors said involved Apple Daily staff, activists, and foreign individuals seeking sanctions and hostile acts from the U.S. and other countries.
Alongside Lai, six former Apple Daily senior staffers, an activist, and a paralegal received prison terms ranging from six to 10 years. The judges emphasized Lai’s central role in orchestrating the conspiracies, justifying the heavier sentence.
The 78-year-old British citizen has consistently denied all charges, claiming he is a “political prisoner” facing persecution from Beijing.
China’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office described the sentence as a “solemn and powerful declaration” against challenges to national security law. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said the ruling “upholds the rule of law” and called Lai’s offences “heinous and utterly unforgivable.”
Lai’s imprisonment has sparked international criticism, including from global leaders such as U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, highlighting Beijing’s tightening grip on Hong Kong freedoms following the 2019 pro-democracy protests. His high-profile ties to the U.S. political landscape, particularly among Republicans, were cited by prosecutors during the trial.
