Hong Kong court jails Jimmy Lai for 20 years in national security case

Jimmy Lai, the 78-year-old founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily and one of Beijing’s most outspoken critics in Hong Kong, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of offences under the national security law imposed by China in 2020.

A panel of three judges described Lai as the “mastermind” behind efforts they said aimed to undermine China’s Communist Party, convicting him of conspiring to collude with foreign forces and conspiring to publish seditious material.

The sentence is expected to keep Lai behind bars for the remainder of his life, given his age and longstanding health issues, including diabetes and high blood pressure. The 20-year total also takes into account an earlier fraud conviction for which he has already been serving time.

Six former Apple Daily staff members and two activists who were co-defendants received prison terms ranging from six to 10 years.

The case has intensified international concern over press freedom in Hong Kong, once regarded as a regional hub for independent media.

The United States and the United Kingdom have condemned the verdict and called for Lai’s release, while rights groups said the sentencing marked another blow to freedoms in the city. Amnesty International said imprisoning him for exercising basic rights was a fresh low for Hong Kong’s justice system.

Key timeline in the Jimmy Lai case

• August 2020: Lai is arrested among the first high-profile figures under the national security law.
   
• June 2021: Apple Daily shuts down after its assets are frozen and senior staff are arrested.
   
• December 2025: The court finds Lai guilty of foreign collusion and seditious publication-related offences.
   
• February 2026: The court hands down a total sentence of 20 years, amid heightened diplomatic friction between China and Western governments.