The deteriorating health of imprisoned Hong Kong pro-democracy publisher Jimmy Lai has sparked international concern as his family intensifies efforts to secure his release. Lai, a 78-year-old British citizen detained since December 2020, faces life imprisonment following his recent conviction under Hong Kong’s national security legislation.
According to his daughter Claire Lai, who resides in exile in London, her father’s physical condition has significantly declined during his incarceration. She reports concerning symptoms including substantial weight loss, deteriorating dental health, fingernails that “turn purplish grey and sometimes fall off,” and the development of previously nonexistent cardiac issues. The diabetic octogenarian also experiences severe back and waist pain that occasionally prevents him from standing or leaving his bed.
These claims contradict official statements from Chinese authorities, whose Foreign Ministry spokesperson in Hong Kong maintains that Lai’s “lawful rights and interests have been fully protected, and he is in good health.” Officials assert that prison authorities provide “a safe, humane, appropriate, and healthy custodial environment in accordance with the law.”
The case has emerged as a diplomatic flashpoint ahead of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in January 2026—the first such visit by a British leader since 2018. Lai’s family has personally appealed to Starmer to advocate for his release during the upcoming talks.
Lai’s conviction earlier this month under the National Security Law (NSL) stemmed from allegations that he colluded with foreign forces by lobbying governments to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and China. He received additional convictions under colonial-era legislation for publishing seditious material in his now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper.
The British government has condemned the prosecution as “politically motivated persecution,” asserting that Lai was “targeted for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression.” UK officials have repeatedly called for the NSL’s repeal and cessation of all related prosecutions.
Chinese authorities have rebuked Western criticism, characterizing external pressure as attempts to “influence judicial verdicts through political pressure [that] blatantly trample on the spirit of the rule of law.” Beijing maintains that the NSL, implemented in 2020 following massive pro-democracy protests, is essential for maintaining stability in Hong Kong, though critics argue it effectively criminalizes dissent.