Hong Kong’s High Court on Monday found pro-democracy activist and media tycoon Jimmy Lai guilty of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and to publish seditious material under the China-imposed national security law, a verdict that could see him sentenced to life in prison.
The case has drawn international attention over concerns about Hong Kong’s judicial independence amid a long-running crackdown on rights and freedoms in the city.
“There is no doubt” that Lai “harboured his resentment and hatred of” China for many years, Judge Esther Toh told the packed courtroom, as Lai, wearing a pale green jumper and grey jacket, sat with his arms folded. Judges Alex Lee and Susana D’Almada Remedios also presided over the case.
Lai, 78, the founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper and one of China’s most vocal critics in Hong Kong, has faced multiple legal challenges under the national security law, which Beijing introduced following the 2019 pro-democracy protests.
He has spent five years in jail pending the outcome of his trial. Lai, who suffers from diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart issues, had pleaded not guilty to the three charges: one count of conspiracy to publish seditious material and two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces. A pre-sentencing hearing, where he can request leniency, is scheduled for January 12.
The verdict marks a turning point for Hong Kong’s democratic opposition. On Sunday, the city’s largest pro-democracy party, the Democratic Party, voted to disband under pressure from Beijing.
Outside the courthouse, hundreds queued overnight for one of 507 tickets to the trial, with some campers arriving with tents and sleeping gear, as police monitored the area.
International criticism of the trial has been strong. The U.S., Britain, and human rights groups have called the case politically motivated and urged Lai’s immediate release. U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly raised Lai’s case with Xi Jinping in October, pledging to do his best to “save” him.
Reporters Without Borders condemned the trial, stating, “Jimmy Lai has endured five years in prison under appalling conditions simply for doing his job as founder of one of the most renowned and independent media outlets in Hong Kong. The trial can only be described as a sham and has nothing to do with the rule of law.”
The Hong Kong and Chinese governments maintain that Lai received a fair trial, arguing that the national security law applies equally to all and that no freedoms are absolute when national security is at stake.
Lai’s family has raised concerns about his deteriorating health after more than 1,800 days in solitary confinement.
The verdict comes amid a sensitive period for Hong Kong, which is still reeling from a fire last month that killed at least 160 people in one of the deadliest residential fires in recent years. Chinese authorities have warned they will crack down on anyone attempting to exploit the tragedy to incite anti-China sentiment or unrest similar to the 2019 pro-democracy protests.
