Jimmy Lai Convicted Under Hong Kong National Security Law in Landmark Verdict

Lai, a 78-year-old media tycoon and founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, was found guilty on Monday of colluding with foreign forces, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. A British citizen, Lai has been in custody since December 2020 and had pleaded not guilty to all charges. His sentencing is expected early next year.

Delivering the ruling, Judge Esther Toh said the court was satisfied beyond doubt that Lai had actively sought international pressure against Hong Kong and China. She stated that Lai had “harboured hatred” toward the People’s Republic of China, pointing to what she described as his repeated appeals to the United States to undermine the Chinese government under the pretext of supporting Hong Kong’s people.

The court found that Lai used Apple Daily as a platform to promote the pro-democracy movement and to encourage foreign governments to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and China. Prosecutors argued that these actions amounted to collusion with foreign forces under the national security law, which was enacted in 2020 without consultation with Hong Kong’s legislature and grants authorities wide-ranging powers to prosecute perceived threats to national security.

During his testimony in November, Lai rejected the accusations, insisting that he had never attempted to influence foreign governments’ policies on Hong Kong. Addressing meetings with senior US officials, including then Vice President Mike Pence, Lai said he merely responded to questions about the situation in Hong Kong and did not make any specific requests. He also told the court that his meeting with former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was limited to urging verbal support for Hong Kong, rather than concrete political action.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee welcomed the conviction, saying Lai’s actions had harmed national interests and undermined the welfare of Hong Kong residents. In contrast, international rights groups and press freedom advocates condemned the verdict, describing the trial as a grave misuse of the national security law to silence dissent. Beijing, however, has consistently defended the legislation as essential to restoring order and stability after months of unrest.

In addition to the national security charge, the court also found Lai guilty of publishing seditious material under a separate colonial-era law, further compounding his legal jeopardy. Lai had been accused of violating both statutes through his role in the 2019 protests and through editorial content published by Apple Daily, which authorities said incited hostility toward the government.

Once a symbol of Hong Kong’s freewheeling media environment, Apple Daily was forced to shut down in 2021 after police raids, asset freezes, and the arrest of senior executives. Lai himself was a central figure in the city’s pro-democracy movement and one of the Chinese state’s most outspoken critics.

As the verdict was read out, Lai remained composed, witnesses said, and waved to his family as he was led out of the courtroom. His wife, Teresa, and one of his sons were present, along with Cardinal Joseph Zen, a close friend who baptized Lai in 1997.

The conviction underscores the profound transformation of Hong Kong’s legal and political landscape since the introduction of the national security law. As Lai awaits sentencing, the case stands as a defining moment for press freedom, political expression, and the rule of law in the city, with implications that continue to reverberate far beyond its borders.