Hong Kong’s High Court has delivered a landmark verdict against pro-democracy activist and media magnate Jimmy Lai, finding the 78-year-old guilty of colluding with foreign forces under the city’s National Security Law. The ruling concludes a highly scrutinized trial that has drawn international condemnation and raised fundamental questions about judicial independence in the former British colony.
Presiding Judge Esther Toh stated there was “no doubt” Lai harbored animosity toward the People’s Republic of China, citing his “constant invitation to the US to help bring down the government of the PRC with the excuse of helping the people of Hong Kong.” The court determined that Lai utilized his now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper as an instrument to lobby foreign governments for sanctions against both Hong Kong and China.
Lai, who has been detained since December 2020, maintained his innocence throughout proceedings. His testimony in November included denials of all charges, asserting he had “never” employed his international connections to influence foreign policy regarding Hong Kong. When questioned about meetings with former US officials Mike Pence and Mike Pompeo, Lai characterized the interactions as informational exchanges rather than policy requests.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee welcomed the verdict, stating Lai’s actions “damaged the country’s interests and the welfare of Hong Kongers.” Conversely, human rights organizations condemned the outcome as “a cruel judicial farce” and part of a broader pattern of using the security legislation to suppress dissent.
The case has ignited diplomatic tensions, with the United Kingdom condemning what it termed “politically motivated persecution” of its citizen. Lai’s son Sebastien appealed for stronger British intervention, urging that his father’s release become a precondition for improved Sino-UK relations. Chinese authorities rebuffed international criticism, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun expressing “strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the brazen defamation and smearing of the judicial system in Hong Kong.”
Beyond the national security charges, Lai was concurrently convicted under colonial-era legislation for publishing seditious material through Apple Daily. The publication had evolved into a symbolic voice for Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement prior to its forced closure.
The trial’s proceedings faced scrutiny over procedural matters, including the denial of Lai’s preferred UK-based legal representation and restrictions on foreign lawyers working national security cases. Concerns about Lai’s health during detention—reportedly including solitary confinement and deteriorating physical condition—were raised repeatedly by his family and advocacy groups.
As Lai awaits sentencing scheduled for early next year, his case joins hundreds of prosecutions under the National Security Law, which boasts a conviction rate approaching 100% according to recent statistics. The legislation, implemented directly by Beijing in 2020 without local legislative consultation, grants authorities expansive powers to address perceived threats to stability and order.