By Xiao Ran, Vision Times
Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy publisher Jimmy Lai has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, triggering swift condemnation from the West, including the U.S., U.K., the United Nations, press freedom groups, and numerous overseas Hong Kong communities.
On Feb. 9, Hong Kong’s High Court, located in the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts building, handed down the sentence against Lai, founder of pro-democracy publications “Next Digital” and “Apple Daily.” Observers described the ruling as the harshest punishment imposed under the stringent National Security Law since its implementation in 2020.
At 10 a.m., three designated national security judges delivered the verdict and detailed sentencing rationale. Lai and eight others, along with three former “Apple Daily” companies, were convicted under the National Security Law. Lai received a 20-year prison term, with 18 years to be served consecutively alongside an earlier fraud conviction.
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The court stated that Lai was the “mastermind” and driving force behind multiple alleged conspiracies, significantly increasing the sentencing baseline. However, judges cited mitigating factors including his age, health condition, and prolonged solitary confinement.
Lai, now 78 and reportedly suffering from diabetes, has been detained since late 2020, more than five years, much of it in isolation. Following the verdict, emotional scenes unfolded in court. Some members of the public cried out in shock, while others wept. Outside, police quickly surrounded and dispersed citizens shouting dissatisfaction, reflecting the intensity of public anger.
Lawmakers condemn sentence
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement strongly condemning the ruling and urging authorities to grant Lai parole on humanitarian grounds.
Representative John Moolenaar, chair of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, said the sentencing was “another stain” on the CCP’s human rights record. He argued that Lai and his colleagues were being punished for exposing abuses in Hong Kong, adding that if Chinese President Xi Jinping wished to improve US-China relations, releasing Lai should be the first step.
Five bipartisan members of Congress have also nominated Lai for the Nobel Peace Prize.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk condemned the ruling, stating that Lai was being punished solely for exercising rights protected under international law. Türk called on Hong Kong authorities to “immediately overturn” the judgment and release Lai unconditionally. He criticized the National Security Law as vague and overly broad, warning that the sentence was “effectively equivalent to a death sentence or life imprisonment.”
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) issued a sharply worded statement declaring that “Hong Kong’s press freedom has come to an end today.” RSF described the proceedings as a sham and urged democratic governments to stop prioritizing normalization with Beijing and instead pressure Chinese and Hong Kong authorities to free Lai and all journalists.
The organization warned that Lai must not suffer the fate of Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo, stating: “The sentence he has received must never become a death sentence.”
‘A life sentence’
Lai is a British citizen, and U.K. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper pledged that Britain would rapidly engage Beijing. She said: “British national Jimmy Lai, after facing politically motivated prosecution for exercising freedom of expression, has today been sentenced to 20 years in prison in Hong Kong.”
Cooper added: “For a 78-year-old, this is equivalent to life imprisonment. I remain deeply concerned about Mr. Lai’s health and again call on the Hong Kong authorities, on humanitarian grounds, to end the horrific suffering he has endured and release him so that he can reunite with his family.”
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Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed he raised Lai’s case directly with Xi Jinping during a recent visit to Beijing. Cooper emphasized that Britain would uphold its legally binding commitments under the Sino-British Joint Declaration, adding: “China must do the same.”
“The Wall Street Journal” published an editorial titled “Jimmy Lai Has Been Given a Death Sentence,” arguing that the 20-year term for an elderly and ill publisher is effectively capital punishment. The editorial said the case marked the collapse of Hong Kong’s promise of freedom under Chinese rule and warned Taiwan that Beijing is sending a clear message about what life under CCP control looks like.
Overseas Hong Kong groups demand action
Multiple Canadian Hong Kong organizations issued a joint statement condemning Lai’s imprisonment as “the ultimate portrayal of judicial persecution.” They argued solitary confinement amounted to “humiliating torture” and urged Canada to impose sanctions, reassess China ties, and take leadership at the G7.
Lai’s son, Sebastien Lai, called the ruling a devastating blow, warning his father could become “a martyr who dies in prison.” Lai’s sentence underscores the rapid contraction of Hong Kong’s media environment. The city’s press freedom ranking has fallen from 18th globally in 2002 to 140th in 2025. RSF estimates at least 900 journalists have lost their jobs since the National Security Law took effect.