A chilling warning for press freedom: Hong Kong's Jimmy Lai faces a life-altering sentence.
In a city once known for its media independence, the fate of a prominent critic of Beijing hangs in the balance. Jimmy Lai, a 78-year-old former media tycoon, is about to learn his punishment for daring to speak truth to power. But here's where it gets controversial: the charges against him are under a national security law imposed by China, which has effectively silenced dissent in Hong Kong.
Lai was convicted of conspiring with others to collude with foreign forces and publish seditious articles. He pleaded not guilty, but now faces a potential life sentence under Hong Kong's security law. The government insists this has nothing to do with press freedom, claiming the defendants used news reporting as a cover for harmful acts against China and Hong Kong.
Lai's sentencing could further strain Beijing's relations with foreign governments. His conviction has already drawn criticism from the U.S. and the U.K., with President Trump expressing concern and Prime Minister Starmer calling for Lai's release. Lai's daughter, Claire, hopes the regime will see the wisdom in freeing her father, a Roman Catholic, saying, "We will never stop fighting until he is free."
Lai founded Apple Daily, a newspaper known for its critical reporting on the governments in Hong Kong and Beijing. He was arrested in 2020 under the security law, which has been used to crack down on Hong Kong's leading activists. During his trial, prosecutors accused him of conspiring with former Apple Daily staffers and activists to request foreign intervention against Hong Kong or China. Lai testified for 52 days, arguing he did not call for foreign sanctions after the law's introduction.
In December, judges ruled Lai was the mastermind of these conspiracies, never wavering in his intention to destabilize the Chinese Communist Party. They took issue with his "constant invitation" to the U.S. to bring down the Chinese government under the guise of helping Hong Kongers.
Urania Chiu, a law lecturer at Oxford Brookes University, says the case is significant for its broad interpretation of seditious intent and the application of "collusion with foreign forces" to media activities. She warns that offering legitimate critiques of the state, which often involves international engagement, could now be construed as "collusion."
Lai is already serving a nearly six-year jail term for fraud allegations in a separate case and has been in custody for over five years. His lawyer, Robert Pang, has raised concerns about Lai's health, including heart palpitations, high blood pressure, and diabetes. While not life-threatening, Pang argues these conditions, combined with Lai's age and solitary confinement, would make his sentence "more burdensome."
The prosecution maintains Lai's health is stable, and a subsequent medical exam found no abnormalities after he complained of heart problems. Meanwhile, some of the former Apple Daily staffers and activists involved in Lai's case have entered guilty pleas, which could reduce their sentences. Under the security law, reporting on others' offenses may result in reduced penalties, and some staff members served as prosecution witnesses.
The convicted journalists include publisher Cheung Kim-hung, associate publisher Chan Pui-man, editor-in-chief Ryan Law, executive editor-in-chief Lam Man-chung, executive editor-in-chief responsible for English news Fung Wai-kong, and editorial writer Yeung Ching-kee. The two activists convicted in the case, Andy Li and Chan Tsz-wah, also testified for the prosecution.
Before sunrise, dozens lined up outside the court building, some arriving on Thursday, to secure a seat in the courtroom. Former Apple Daily employee Tammy Cheung said she could only support the defendants spiritually by seeing them. She hopes they will be released soon, saying it would be wonderful if they could reunite with their families before the Lunar New Year.
"Whatever happens, it's an end—at least we'll know the outcome," she said.
Lai founded Apple Daily in 1995, two years before Hong Kong's return to Chinese rule after 156 years as a British colony. The publication gained a strong following with its occasionally sensational, investigative reporting and short, animated video reports. Articles supporting the city's democracy movement, including the 2019 anti-government protests, attracted many pro-democracy readers.
Lai was one of the first prominent figures arrested under the security law in 2020. Within a year, some of Apple Daily's senior journalists were also arrested. Police raids, prosecutions, and a freeze of its assets forced the newspaper's closure in 2021. The final edition sold a million copies.
In 2022, Hong Kong's press freedom ranking plummeted to 148th out of 180 territories, a far cry from its 18th place ranking in 2002. This case sends a chilling message to journalists and academics, raising concerns about the future of press freedom and independent thought in Hong Kong.
