On December 15, 2025, a Hong Kong court found pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai guilty on all three charges in a high-profile national security trial, marking a significant moment in the city's ongoing crackdown on dissent under Beijing's imposed laws. The 78-year-old founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper was convicted of two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces under the 2020 National Security Law (NSL) and one count of conspiracy to publish seditious publications under colonial-era sedition legislation.
The verdict, delivered by a panel of three government-approved judges in a trial without a jury, could result in a life sentence for Lai, who has been in detention since December 2020. A mitigation hearing is scheduled to begin on January 12, 2026, where arguments for leniency will be presented before sentencing.
In an 855-page judgment, Judge Esther Toh described Lai's actions as those of a "mastermind" driven by "resentment and hatred" toward the People's Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The court highlighted Lai's lobbying efforts with U.S. officials, including meetings with then-Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in 2019, as evidence of collusion. The judges likened his conduct to "an American urging Russia to topple the US government," emphasizing that Lai sought foreign sanctions against Hong Kong and Chinese officials, even after the NSL took effect.
The court also held Lai responsible for 161 opinion pieces published in Apple Daily that were deemed seditious, accusing them of inciting hatred against the governments of Hong Kong and mainland China. Three associated companies—Apple Daily Limited, Apple Daily Printing Limited, and AD Internet Limited—were similarly convicted of conspiracy to collude and publish seditious material.
Lai, a British citizen who pleaded not guilty, testified for 52 days during the 156-day trial that began in December 2023. He denied orchestrating any conspiracy, insisting his meetings with foreign officials were to discuss Hong Kong's situation and that he ceased calls for sanctions after the NSL's enactment to avoid violating the law. The judges, however, found his testimony "evasive" and "unreliable," ruling that his intent was to undermine the CCP "at the cost of the interests of people in Hong Kong and mainland China."
The case stems from the 2019 pro-democracy protests that rocked Hong Kong, prompting Beijing to impose the NSL in June 2020 to curb secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces. Critics argue the law has eroded freedoms guaranteed under the "one country, two systems" framework, leading to the arrest of dozens of activists, the dissolution of civil society groups, and the closure of independent media outlets like Apple Daily, which was raided and shuttered in 2021 after its assets were frozen.
International reaction was swift and polarized. The United Kingdom condemned the verdict as "politically motivated persecution," reiterating calls for Lai's immediate release and repeal of the NSL. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International described the conviction as a "travesty" and "death knell" for press freedom, while the Committee to Protect Journalists called it a "sham" aimed at silencing journalism. Taiwan urged Lai's release, labeling the ruling evidence of eroded freedoms in Hong Kong.
In contrast, Hong Kong authorities and Beijing defended the trial as fair, with Chief Executive John Lee welcoming the outcome as upholding justice. China's national security office in Hong Kong labeled Lai a "pawn of external anti-China forces" attempting a "color revolution."
Lai's son, Sebastien Lai, expressed dismay but not surprise, criticizing the NSL's weaponization against free expression. Supporters queued overnight outside the West Kowloon court, with some voicing concerns over Lai's deteriorating health after over 1,800 days in solitary confinement, including conditions like diabetes and hypertension.
This conviction is seen as a barometer of Hong Kong's judicial independence and media landscape under the NSL, which has transformed the city from a vibrant hub of free speech to one where dissent is increasingly criminalized. As the highest-profile case yet, it underscores Beijing's tightening grip and the challenges facing pro-democracy figures.
