Hong Kong Jails Media Tycoon Jimmy Lai for 20 Years in Landmark National Security Case

Hong Kong’s most prominent China critic and media tycoon, Jimmy Lai, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, bringing to a close the city’s largest and most closely watched national security case amid renewed international concern over Beijing’s tightening grip on Hong Kong’s freedoms.

Lai, the 78-year-old founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, was convicted on two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of publishing seditious materials. His sentencing on Monday ends a legal battle that has stretched nearly five years since his arrest in August 2020.

In delivering the judgement, the panel of national security judges said the 20-year jail term fell within the harshest sentencing band reserved for offences of a “grave nature”, making it the most severe punishment imposed so far under Hong Kong’s national security law.

The judges described Lai as the “mastermind” and driving force behind persistent foreign collusion conspiracies, citing prosecution evidence that he sought sanctions, blockades, and other hostile actions from the United States and other countries. They said the schemes involved a network of individuals, including Apple Daily staff, activists, and foreign actors.

“In the present case, Lai was no doubt the mastermind of all three conspiracies charged, and therefore he warrants a heavier sentence,” the judges ruled, adding that it was difficult to differentiate the culpability of his co-defendants.

Six former senior Apple Daily executives, along with an activist and a paralegal, were also sentenced to prison terms ranging from six to ten years.

Lai, a British citizen, has consistently denied the charges, describing himself during the trial as a “political prisoner” facing persecution by Beijing. His conviction and sentencing have drawn sharp criticism from international leaders and human rights groups.

Hong Kong’s leader, John Lee, welcomed the ruling, saying it upheld the rule of law and reflected public sentiment. “Jimmy Lai’s crimes are heinous and utterly unforgivable,” he said. China’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office likewise described the sentence as a “solemn and powerful declaration” that challenges to national security would be severely punished.

The case has attracted global attention, with figures including U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer raising concerns about Lai’s detention. Starmer reportedly discussed the case directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a recent meeting in Beijing, calling for Lai’s release.

Lai’s supporters argue that his prosecution epitomises the erosion of civil liberties in Hong Kong since Beijing imposed the national security law in 2020 following mass pro-democracy protests the previous year. They also cite his fragile health, noting that he suffers from diabetes and high blood pressure.

“This sentence is devastating for our family and life-threatening for my father,” said his son, Sebastien Lai, who described the ruling as the “total destruction” of Hong Kong’s legal system and urged Chinese authorities to release him.

Human Rights Watch’s Asia director, Elaine Pearson, called the punishment “cruel and profoundly unjust”, while Hong Kong police dismissed concerns about Lai’s health, saying they had been exaggerated.

Despite acknowledging that Lai’s age and medical condition would make his imprisonment “more burdensome” than for other inmates, the judges declined to significantly reduce his sentence, granting only limited deductions.

As dozens of supporters queued for days to observe the proceedings under heavy police presence, Western diplomats suggested negotiations for Lai’s release could now intensify following the conclusion of his trial. Lai’s legal team said he has 28 days to decide whether to appeal.

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