A Hong Kong courtroom became the focal point of international attention on Monday as proceedings commenced to determine the sentencing of prominent democracy advocate and former media magnate Jimmy Lai. The 78-year-old founder of the shuttered Apple Daily newspaper faces potential life imprisonment following his December conviction under Hong Kong’s national security legislation.
The judicial panel convened for a four-day mitigation hearing during which Lai and several co-defendants will present arguments seeking reduced sentences. The case stems from Lai’s 2020 arrest under the security law implemented by Beijing following widespread anti-government protests that engulfed Hong Kong in 2019.
Lai was convicted on two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of conspiracy to publish seditious materials. Despite pleading not guilty to all charges, three government-vetted judges determined Lai served as the mastermind behind coordinated efforts to undermine China’s ruling Communist Party through foreign intervention.
The verdict has ignited international concern regarding press freedom in Hong Kong, which returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. Several Western governments, including the United States and Britain, have criticized the outcome, with both former President Donald Trump and current British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressing particular concern given Lai’s status as a British citizen.
Outside the courthouse, dozens of supporters gathered before sunrise, with some queuing since Friday to secure seating in the public gallery. Retiree Simon Ng, a former Apple Daily reader, expressed his desire to show solidarity: ‘I want to let him know that he’s not alone. Many people support him.’
Six former Apple Daily executives and two activists involved in the case have entered guilty pleas, admitting to conspiring with Lai to request foreign sanctions. These individuals, who testified as prosecution witnesses during the 156-day trial, may receive reduced sentences under provisions that reward cooperation with authorities.
Lai has already spent five years in custody, during which his health has reportedly deteriorated. His legal team previously informed the court of heart palpitations, though government medical examinations found no abnormalities. His daughter Claire has stated that Lai would focus on religious devotion and family life rather than political activism if released.