In a pivotal courtroom proceeding that has drawn international scrutiny, former executives of the defunct pro-democracy publication Apple Daily appealed for reduced sentences on Tuesday. The case represents a critical juncture for assessing media freedoms in Hong Kong, once celebrated as Asia’s premier bastion of press liberty.
The defendants, who entered guilty pleas in 2022 to conspiracy charges involving collusion with foreign entities, acknowledged participating in coordinated efforts with former media magnate Jimmy Lai to solicit international sanctions and hostile actions against Hong Kong and China. While Lai maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, his December conviction heightened global concerns regarding the erosion of press freedoms under the national security framework.
Government representatives have consistently reframed the narrative, asserting that the case fundamentally concerns national security violations rather than media suppression. Officials contend that the defendants systematically exploited journalistic activities as cover for actions detrimental to Chinese and Hong Kong interests.
Six former Apple Daily executives face sentencing determinations, including publisher Cheung Kim-hung, associate publisher Chan Pui-man, and editor-in-chief Ryan Law. Several provided testimony during the extensive 156-day trial proceedings. The national security legislation stipulates penalties ranging from three years to life imprisonment for collusion convictions, though cooperative defendants may receive sentence reductions.
During Tuesday’s hearing, defense counsel Marco Li advocated for Chan Pui-man’s sentence to be halved, citing her limited involvement, prompt guilty plea, and prosecutorial cooperation. The court learned that Chan remained professionally constrained due to health complications and financial pressures despite ethical reservations about certain organizational practices.
The proceedings unfolded amid poignant personal circumstances, with Chan’s husband Chung Pui-kuen—a former senior editor at the shuttered Stand News—observing from the public gallery while serving a 21-month sentence for sedition.
Apple Daily’s historical context reveals its evolution from a 1995 founding through its rise as an influential publication known for investigative reporting and animated video content. The newspaper’s openly critical stance toward Hong Kong and Chinese authorities garnered substantial pro-democracy readership, particularly during the 2019 anti-government protests when it published content supporting demonstration movements.
Beijing’s implementation of the national security law triggered a series of enforcement actions against the publication, including arrests of key figures, asset freezes, and police operations that culminated in Apple Daily’s June 2021 closure. Its final edition achieved unprecedented circulation of one million copies.
In their December ruling, three government-appointed justices determined that Lai had instrumentalized the newspaper as a vehicle for advancing his political objectives both before and after the security law’s enactment. Concurrent sentencing arguments for Lai, Cheung, and two non-Apple Daily activists proceeded Monday, with Lai exchanging emotional gestures with supporters during Tuesday’s courtroom appearance.