In a significant judicial development, Hong Kong’s appellate court has overturned fraud convictions against prominent pro-democracy activist and former media magnate Jimmy Lai. The 78-year-old founder of the shuttered Apple Daily newspaper, however, remains incarcerated under a separate national security conviction that carries a 20-year sentence.
The overturned convictions stemmed from a 2022 case where prosecutors alleged Lai’s consultancy firm improperly used office space leased by his media organization for publication purposes. The original trial court had sentenced Lai to five years and nine months imprisonment and imposed a HK$2 million fine, finding that he had used his media operations as a ‘protective shield’ to violate lease agreements.
Appellate judges determined that prosecutors failed to establish beyond reasonable doubt that the defendants had made false representations, resulting in the dismissal of both fraud convictions. This ruling may marginally reduce Lai’s overall prison term, as the national security case sentencing structure only permits two years of concurrent sentencing.
Lai’s legal battles have drawn international attention, with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper characterizing his sentencing as punishment for exercising freedom of expression and calling for his release on humanitarian grounds. The activist’s children have expressed hope that upcoming diplomatic engagements between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping might facilitate their father’s release.
Chinese and Hong Kong authorities maintain that Lai’s national security conviction reflects proper judicial process and emphasize that the security legislation remains essential for regional stability. The case continues to symbolize the broader tensions between Hong Kong’s legal traditions and Beijing’s increasing influence over the territory’s governance.