HONG KONG — Pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for colluding with foreign forces, the harshest punishment yet handed down under Hong Kong’s controversial national security law.
The 78-year-old founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, and a British citizen, is the most prominent figure among hundreds arrested since Beijing imposed the sweeping legislation in 2020 following mass protests. Rights groups condemned the sentence as “draconian” and “a death sentence,” citing Lai’s age and health concerns.
Hong Kong’s leader, however, hailed the ruling as “deeply gratifying,” while Chinese officials insisted the case demonstrated the city’s rule of law. Judges described Lai’s actions as “serious and grave criminal conduct,” citing alleged conspiracies of the “most serious” category.
Family and International Reaction
Lai’s son, Sebastien, called the decision “incredibly heartbreaking” and accused the UK government of failing to act despite repeated appeals. He said the sentence marked “the total destruction of the Hong Kong legal system and the end of justice.”
Human rights groups and press freedom advocates echoed those concerns. Jodie Ginsberg of the Committee to Protect Journalists said the ruling was “the final nail in the coffin for freedom of the press in Hong Kong,” urging global leaders to increase pressure on Beijing. Human Rights Watch’s Asia director Elaine Pearson said the case showed China’s determination to “crush independent journalism.”
The UK, Australia, the European Union, Japan, and UN human rights chief Volker Turk have all expressed concern, with calls for Lai’s release intensifying.
Courtroom Drama
Ahead of sentencing, heavy police presence surrounded the court, while supporters camped outside for days hoping to witness the proceedings. Inside, Lai appeared calm, smiling at his family and supporters as the sentence was read. His wife Teresa held back tears as she left the courtroom.
Six former Apple Daily executives and two activists were also sentenced under the law, receiving terms ranging from six years to 10 years. Lai has already spent more than five years in prison on earlier convictions for fraud and unauthorized assemblies.
Charges and Background
The case centered on Lai’s meetings with then–U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during the 2019 protests. Prosecutors argued these contacts amounted to collusion with foreign forces. Lai denied the charges, saying he was merely relaying Hong Kong’s situation and never sought to influence foreign policy.
Born in Guangzhou, Lai arrived in Hong Kong as a stowaway at age 12, later building a clothing empire with Giordano before turning to media and activism. Following China’s 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, he launched Apple Daily and Next Magazine, becoming one of the city’s most outspoken democracy advocates.
In his last interview before imprisonment, Lai told the BBC: “I got everything I have because of Hong Kong. If this is payback time, this is my redemption.”
