Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai faces sentencing in national security case

Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai faces a potential life sentence on Monday as judges prepare to announce his punishment in one of the most significant cases under China’s controversial national security law, which has effectively silenced dissent in the former British colony.

In December, three government-vetted judges convicted the 78-year-old founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper of conspiring to collude with foreign forces and publishing seditious articles. Lai, who maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, has already spent more than five years in custody.

The case has drawn international attention as a symbol of Hong Kong’s deteriorating press freedom and Beijing’s tightening grip on the territory that was once considered a bastion of media independence in Asia. Once known for its vibrant press landscape, Hong Kong has plummeted in global press freedom rankings, falling from 18th place in 2002 to 140th currently, according to Reporters Without Borders.

U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed concern over Lai’s situation, revealing he personally discussed the case with Chinese President Xi Jinping and “asked to consider his release.” The British government under Prime Minister Keir Starmer has similarly called for the release of Lai, who holds British citizenship.

“We will never stop fighting until he is free,” Lai’s daughter Claire told The Associated Press, expressing hope that authorities might yet show mercy toward her father, a Roman Catholic.

Prosecutors portrayed Lai as the mastermind behind efforts to request foreign sanctions against Hong Kong and China. During his 156-day trial, which included 52 days of personal testimony, Lai argued he had never called for foreign sanctions after the national security law’s implementation in 2020.

The judges disagreed, ruling that Lai “never wavered in his intention” to destabilize China’s ruling Communist Party. They specifically cited what they described as his “constant invitation” for the United States to take action against the Chinese government under the guise of helping Hong Kong residents.

Legal experts view the case as setting dangerous precedents for journalists and academics. Urania Chiu, a lecturer in law at Oxford Brookes University, noted the alarming breadth of what constitutes “collusion with foreign forces” under the court’s interpretation.

“Offering and publishing legitimate critiques of the state, which often involves engagement with international platforms and audiences, may now easily be construed as ‘collusion,'” Chiu warned.

Lai’s health has become a concern during his incarceration. In January, his lawyer Robert Pang reported that Lai suffers from heart palpitations, high blood pressure, and diabetes. While prosecutors maintain his condition remains stable, Pang argued that Lai’s health issues, advanced age, and solitary confinement would make any sentence “more burdensome.”

The Hong Kong government has repeatedly insisted the case has nothing to do with press freedom, claiming the defendants used journalism as a pretext for activities that harmed China and Hong Kong’s interests.

Several co-defendants are also scheduled for sentencing on Monday. These include six former Apple Daily executives and editors—publisher Cheung Kim-hung, associate publisher Chan Pui-man, editor-in-chief Ryan Law, executive editors-in-chief Lam Man-chung and Fung Wai-kong, and editorial writer Yeung Ching-kee. Unlike Lai, these individuals entered guilty pleas, which may result in reduced sentences. Two activists involved in the case, Andy Li and Chan Tsz-wah, also testified for the prosecution.

Apple Daily’s closure in June 2021 marked a significant blow to Hong Kong’s independent media. Founded by Lai in 1995, just two years before Hong Kong’s handover from British to Chinese rule, the newspaper had built a reputation for bold investigative reporting and pro-democracy coverage. Its final edition sold an unprecedented one million copies as supporters rallied to purchase what many viewed as the last testament to the city’s once-vibrant free press.

Before dawn on Monday, dozens of people lined up outside the courthouse to secure seats for the sentencing, reflecting the case’s profound significance for Hong Kong society.

“Whatever happens, it’s an end—at least we’ll know the outcome,” said former Apple Daily employee Tammy Cheung, expressing hope that the defendants might be released in time to celebrate the upcoming Lunar New Year with their families.