A Hong Kong court has jailed pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai for 20 years, after he was found guilty of two national security charges and a sedition charge in last December following a years-long court battle.
This is the harshest sentence under the controversial national security law, which China says is necessary for Hong Kong’s stability.
Lai, who is a British citizen, was one of the loudest critics of Beijing, often wielding his pro-democracy paper, Apple Daily, as a tool of protest.
A summary document from the court proceedings disclosed the details of Lai’s sentencing. “Having stepped back and taking a global view of the total sentence for Lai’s serious and grave criminal conduct… we are satisfied that the total sentence for Lai in the present case should be 20 years’ imprisonment,” the court document said.
The document added that although he was sentenced on three separate counts, collectively carrying prison terms of more than 35 years, Lai will be allowed to serve some of those terms concurrently, “thus making a total imprisonment term of 20 years.”
In addition to the penalties handed down to Lai today, the court also convicted a number of former colleagues from his Apple Daily newspaper.
Those affiliated with Apple Daily included former editor-in-chief Ryan Law Wai-kwong, former executive editor-in-chief Lam Man-chung, former senior editorial writer Fung Wai-kong, former lead editorial writer Yeung Ching-kee, former associate publisher Chan Pui-man, and Cheung Kim-hung, former chief executive of Next Digital, the media company that owned Apple Daily.
Yeung, Chan and Cheung were considered “accomplice witnesses”; they not only pleaded guilty but also gave evidence for the prosecution, and were therefore given reduced sentences, according to court documents.
Law, Lam and Fung did not give evidence or assist the prosecution, and so each of their sentences was reduced to the statutory minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment for their guilty pleas.
Hailed a hero by the pro-democracy movement, Lai is seen as a traitor by Beijing. He has always denied the charges against him.
In a Facebook post, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, John Lee Ka-chiu celebrated Jimmy Lai’s sentencing as “deeply gratifying,” describing his crimes as “utterly despicable.”
“For a long time, Lai used Apple Daily to poison the minds of citizens, incite hatred, distort facts, deliberately create social division, glorify violence, and openly beg external forces to sanction China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
“Jimmy Lai’s heinous acts endangering national security have harmed the interests of the country and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, as well as the interests of the citizens.”
John Lee Ka-chiu
Lee, who has previously welcomed convictions against Lai, also characterised today’s sentencing as “a significant milestone in Hong Kong’s efforts to safeguard national security.”
UK To Engage With China Over Lai’s Case
Meanwhile, the UK said that it “will rapidly engage further” with Chinese authorities on Lai’s case.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said in a statement posted by the Foreign Office on X, “British national Jimmy Lai was today sentenced to 20 years in prison… for a 78-year-old, this is tantamount to a life sentence.”
“I again call on the Hong Kong authorities to end his appalling ordeal and release him on humanitarian grounds, so that he may be reunited with his family. We stand with the people of Hong Kong.”
Yvette Cooper
Cooper stated that Lai was jailed “for exercising his right to freedom of expression, following a politically motivated prosecution.” She added, “Beijing’s National Security Law was imposed on Hong Kong to silence China’s critics.”
Cooper stated that UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer had raised Lai’s case directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his Beijing trip.
In the lead-up to Lai’s sentencing, Starmer and the UK government had been criticised for not doing enough to advocate for the 78-year-old’s release.
Following Starmer’s visit to Beijing in late January – the first by a British Prime Minister in eight years – the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on Arbitrary Detention and Hostage Affairs issued a statement saying that “an opportunity to secure [Jimmy Lai’s] release has been squandered by weak diplomacy.” “These opportunities will cost Jimmy Lai his life,” the group said.
Days after Starmer’s Beijing visit, Lai’s son Sebastien also denounced that it as a wasted opportunity.
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