On December 15, Hong Kong’s High Court ruled that Jimmy Lai violated China’s sweeping National Security Law, which was imposed on the city in 2020. Prosecutors accused Lai of conspiring with foreign governments and using Apple Daily to advocate sanctions against Hong Kong and Chinese officials.

Lai, 78, has long been a prominent supporter of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement. Apple Daily, once a vocal critic of Beijing, was forced to shut down in 2021 following police raids, asset freezes, and the arrest of senior executives.

Charges and Potential Sentence

The court found Lai guilty of colluding with foreign forces and publishing seditious content, offenses that carry the possibility of life imprisonment. Sentencing is expected to take place in early 2026.

Throughout the trial, prosecutors presented evidence of Lai’s international contacts and editorial direction at Apple Daily, arguing that his activities were aimed at destabilizing China and Hong Kong’s governance.

International Reaction and Press Freedom Concerns

The ruling prompted swift condemnation from human rights organizations and Western governments, who described the case as politically motivated and a direct attack on freedom of expression.

Critics argue that the National Security Law has been systematically used to silence dissent, dismantle independent media, and criminalize opposition voices in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong’s Shrinking Freedoms

Since the introduction of the National Security Law, Hong Kong has seen a dramatic contraction of civil liberties. The legislation criminalizes acts of secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces under broadly defined terms.

Opposition parties have dissolved, civil society groups have disbanded, and independent media outlets have either closed or significantly curtailed operations, fundamentally reshaping the city’s political and media landscape.