Hong Kong ex-media tycoon Jimmy Lai will be sentenced Monday after national security conviction

Hong Kong’s prominent pro-democracy figure Jimmy Lai faces sentencing Monday following his conviction under Beijing’s controversial national security law, concluding a landmark case that has drawn international scrutiny.

Lai, the 78-year-old founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, could face life imprisonment when he appears in court at 10 a.m., according to a judiciary announcement released Friday. The sentencing marks the culmination of a protracted legal battle that many observers view as emblematic of Hong Kong’s shrinking civil liberties.

The media tycoon was convicted in December on charges of conspiring to collude with foreign forces and publishing seditious content. Prosecutors accused Lai of working with senior executives at Apple Daily and others to solicit foreign sanctions or hostile activities against Hong Kong and mainland China.

Throughout the proceedings, Lai maintained his innocence, pleading not guilty to all charges. His co-defendants, including six former Apple Daily journalists and two activists, entered pleas that may result in reduced sentences. All will learn their fates during Monday’s court session.

The case has become a flashpoint in Hong Kong’s political landscape since Lai’s arrest in 2020 under the sweeping national security law Beijing imposed following the territory’s massive anti-government protests in 2019. Chinese authorities defended the legislation as necessary for restoring stability to the former British colony, while critics viewed it as a tool to suppress dissent.

Lai’s trial has drawn particular attention as a barometer of press freedom in Hong Kong, which was guaranteed certain autonomous rights when it returned to Chinese rule in 1997 under the “one country, two systems” framework. The city’s once-vibrant media landscape has contracted significantly since the security law’s implementation, with Apple Daily itself forced to close in 2021 after authorities froze its assets.

Hong Kong officials insist the case centers solely on Lai’s alleged violations of the law rather than press freedom concerns. Chief Justice Andrew Cheung addressed international criticism in January, stating that calls to release defendants based on political considerations “strike at the very heart of the rule of law itself.”

The impending sentencing threatens to escalate diplomatic tensions between China and Western nations. Both the United States and United Kingdom have voiced concerns about Lai’s conviction. U.S. President Donald Trump, who previously discussed Lai’s case with Chinese counterparts, expressed that he felt “so badly” following the December verdict.

The UK government under Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for Lai’s release, noting his status as a British citizen. However, such appeals have done little to sway Hong Kong authorities, who view the case as an internal legal matter.

Monday’s sentencing adds to Lai’s legal troubles. He is currently serving nearly six years for a separate fraud conviction and has faced other charges related to his participation in unauthorized assemblies during the 2019 protests.

For many Hong Kong residents and international observers, Lai’s case represents the dramatic transformation of a city once celebrated for its open society. The outcome will likely be closely watched for signals about Hong Kong’s judicial independence and the future application of the national security law against government critics.

As the sentencing approaches, press freedom advocates and human rights organizations continue to raise concerns about the broader implications for civil liberties in what was once considered Asia’s most free-wheeling financial hub.