BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
Jimmy Lai, the pro-democracy media tycoon whose outspoken criticism of Beijing made him one of Hong Kong’s most prominent dissenting voices, was sentenced on Monday to 20 years in prison, the longest punishment imposed to date under the China-enacted national security law that has dramatically reshaped the city’s political and media landscape.
Lai, 78, was convicted in December of conspiring to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security and of conspiracy to publish seditious articles. Prosecutors had sought severe penalties, and the offenses carried a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The court ultimately imposed a term that ensures Lai will remain behind bars well into old age.
Six former employees of Lai’s now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper and two pro-democracy activists who were tried alongside him also received lengthy prison terms. The former journalists were sentenced to between six years and nine months and 10 years, while the two activists were given terms ranging from six years and three months to seven years and three months on collusion-related charges.
Lai appeared calm as he arrived at the courthouse, smiling and waving to supporters seated in the public gallery. The atmosphere shifted after the sentence was read, with several spectators visibly distressed and some in tears. Lai’s demeanor grew solemn as he was led away. Asked whether the defense would appeal, his lawyer, Robert Pang, declined to comment.
The case has become a defining symbol of Hong Kong’s post-2020 transformation, raising deep concerns among press freedom advocates and foreign governments about the erosion of civil liberties in a city that was once regarded as a bastion of free expression in Asia. Authorities have repeatedly rejected such criticisms, insisting the prosecution has nothing to do with journalism or political beliefs and arguing that Lai and his associates used media work as a cover for activities that threatened national security.
Lai was among the first high-profile figures arrested after the national security law took effect in mid-2020. Over the following months, police detained several senior editors and executives at Apple Daily, a fiercely critical tabloid founded by Lai and widely read for its investigative reporting and confrontational editorial stance. The newspaper was forced to shut down in June 2021 after authorities froze its assets, a move that sent shockwaves through Hong Kong’s media industry.
Monday’s sentencing is expected to further strain relations between Beijing and Western governments, many of which have openly criticized the prosecution. U.S. President Donald Trump said he felt “so badly” about the verdict and disclosed that he had raised Lai’s case directly with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, urging him to consider the publisher’s release. Trump is expected to visit China later this spring.
In London, the British government renewed its calls for Lai’s freedom. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration described the case as politically driven, while Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the 20-year term amounted to a life sentence for a man of Lai’s age. Lai holds British citizenship, a fact that has added diplomatic weight to the case.
In a statement released after the sentencing, Lai’s son, Sebastien, described the punishment as devastating and life-threatening for his father, calling it evidence of the collapse of Hong Kong’s legal protections. His sister, Claire, echoed those sentiments, describing the sentence as “heartbreakingly cruel” and warning that her father would die in prison if it were carried out in full.
Hong Kong’s leader, John Lee, defended the outcome, saying the sentence demonstrated the strength of the rule of law and reflected the seriousness of Lai’s crimes. He said the verdict brought “great satisfaction” to the public. In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Lai is a Chinese citizen and characterized him as a central figure in what he called anti-China destabilization efforts in Hong Kong. Lin urged foreign governments to respect the city’s legal system and refrain from interference.
In their written judgment, the three judges overseeing the case said Lai’s sentence was increased after they concluded he was the mastermind behind the conspiracies. They noted that his leadership role distinguished him from his co-defendants and warranted harsher punishment. At the same time, the court reduced the overall term in recognition of Lai’s age, health problems, and the fact that he has spent long periods in solitary confinement, which they acknowledged would make imprisonment particularly burdensome.
The judges also took into account that Lai is already serving a separate prison term of five years and nine months for fraud. They ruled that 18 years of the national security sentence would be served consecutively to that existing term, ensuring an extended period of incarceration.
Legal scholars say the case sets a far-reaching precedent. Urania Chiu, a law lecturer at Oxford Brookes University, said the ruling underscores the broad interpretation of offenses such as sedition and collusion with foreign forces, particularly when applied to journalistic activity. She warned that engaging with international audiences or publishing criticism of the government could now be more easily framed as criminal conduct, a development she described as deeply alarming for journalists and academics alike.
Lai has been in custody for more than five years. His defense has previously raised concerns about his health, citing heart palpitations, high blood pressure and diabetes. Prosecutors said medical assessments showed his condition remained stable, while the government maintained that his time in solitary confinement was at his own request.
The co-defendants benefited from reduced sentences after entering guilty pleas and, in some cases, agreeing to testify for the prosecution. Judges said the cooperation of several former Apple Daily executives and the two activists significantly contributed to securing Lai’s conviction, justifying lighter penalties for those individuals.
Before dawn on the day of sentencing, dozens of people lined up outside the courthouse in hopes of securing seats inside the courtroom. Among them was Tammy Cheung, a former Apple Daily employee, who said the day marked a painful but definitive end to a long and uncertain process.
Lai founded Apple Daily in 1995, two years before Hong Kong’s handover from British to Chinese rule. The paper’s aggressive reporting style and open support for democratic movements made it a constant target of official criticism. Its closure in 2021 marked a turning point for the city’s press. By 2025, Hong Kong had fallen to 140th out of 180 territories in a global press freedom ranking, a dramatic decline from its position near the top two decades earlier.
Senior police officials welcomed the severity of the sentence, arguing that Lai’s actions had caused serious harm to Hong Kong. Authorities also said assets linked to his crimes would be confiscated.
International human rights groups condemned the ruling. Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, described the 20-year sentence as cruel and unjust, saying it effectively amounts to a death sentence for an elderly man whose career once symbolized Hong Kong’s freewheeling press culture.
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