Hong Kong ex-media mogul Jimmy Lai will not appeal national security conviction, legal team says

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai will not appeal his national security conviction that resulted in a 20-year prison sentence, his legal team confirmed Friday. The decision marks the end of a lengthy legal battle for the 78-year-old former publisher.

Lai, who founded the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, was found guilty in December on charges of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and publishing seditious articles. His legal representatives declined to comment on the reasoning behind the decision not to appeal.

“We can confirm we have clear and definitive instructions not to lodge an appeal against conviction or sentence,” his Hong Kong legal team told The Associated Press via text message.

The case has drawn international attention as a symbol of Hong Kong’s diminishing press freedoms following Beijing’s implementation of a sweeping national security law in 2020. Lai was among the first high-profile figures arrested under the legislation.

Within a year of his arrest, several senior journalists from Apple Daily were also detained, and the newspaper—known for its critical coverage of both Beijing and Hong Kong governments—was forced to close in June 2021 after authorities froze its assets.

Hong Kong authorities have consistently maintained that Lai’s case is unrelated to press freedom, insisting instead that the defendants used journalism as a pretext for activities that harmed China and Hong Kong’s interests. Critics and human rights organizations, however, view his prosecution as part of a broader crackdown on dissent in the former British colony.

Given Lai’s advanced age, the lengthy sentence has raised concerns that he may spend his remaining years behind bars. The British citizen’s plight has prompted diplomatic interventions, with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper calling for his release on humanitarian grounds.

Lai’s children have suggested that a possible visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to Beijing might be crucial in securing their father’s release. Trump, who previously raised Lai’s case with Chinese authorities, expressed sympathy following the verdict. The White House has confirmed Trump will travel to China from March 31 to April 2 for talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, although Beijing has not officially confirmed the visit.

Wilson Chan, co-founder of the Pagoda Institute think tank, suggested that Lai’s decision not to appeal could be a prerequisite for any diplomatic solution, possibly including a pardon from Hong Kong’s leader. However, Chan cautioned that such an outcome remains uncertain.

“Beijing would not need to use Lai’s case as leverage with the U.S. and it would have other considerations, including how to maintain the city’s judicial independence under its ‘one country, two systems’ governing principle,” Chan explained.

He added that resolving Lai’s case would likely not be a top priority for Trump, especially given the numerous other points of tension between Washington and Beijing, including trade disputes and issues related to Taiwan.

In a rare legal victory, Lai recently won an appeal to overturn his convictions and sentence in a separate fraud case. This ruling could potentially reduce his overall prison time, though Hong Kong’s Department of Justice is considering whether to challenge the decision.

Lai’s prosecution and imprisonment highlight the significant political transformation Hong Kong has undergone since the implementation of the national security law. Once known for its vibrant press and civil liberties, the city has seen numerous pro-democracy activists, politicians, and journalists either imprisoned or forced into exile as authorities have tightened control over dissent.

International human rights organizations continue to monitor Lai’s case closely, viewing it as a litmus test for Hong Kong’s commitment to the rule of law and the autonomy promised under the “one country, two systems” framework established when the territory returned to Chinese control in 1997.