Hong Kong: Jimmy Lai convicted in national security case

Media magnate and Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai was convicted by Hong Kong's High Court on December 15 in a landmark national security case that could see Lai sentenced to life in prison. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns Lai's conviction under the draconian National Security Law and calls for an end to the persecution of critical, independent media in Hong Kong.

Police officers keep watch as a correctional Services van transporting media tycoon Jimmy Lai leaves the West Kowloon court after Lai's national security trial in Hong Kong on December 15, 2025. Credit: Leung Man Hei / AFP

Lai was found guilty by Hong Kong's High Court on two counts of 'conspiracy to collude with foreign forces' under the National Security Law and one count of 'conspiracy to publish seditious publications' under the Crimes Ordinance in a trial lasting nearly two years amid repeated delays and interventions. The 78-year-old pro-democracy media owner has been detained for more than 1,800 days since his arrest in 2020.

In her verdict, Judge Esther Toh said Lai had clearly "harboured his hatred and resentment" for the People's Republic of China (PRC) with the intent to "seek the downfall" of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Hong Kong chief executive John Lee also welcomed the conviction, stating that Lai had "damaged the country's interests and the welfare of Hong Kongers". A pre-sentence hearing is scheduled for January 12, with the charges carrying a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The conviction has been strongly condemned by international governments, human rights groups, press freedom bodies, and trade unions as a politically motivated silencing of voices critical of Beijing. Concerns have also been raised about Lai's deteriorating health during his time in maximum security prison, spent mostly in solitary confinement, with the media owner facing heart palpitations and diabetes, among other issues.

Lai has faced repeated arrests and prosecutions for his pro-democracy activism and criticism of the Chinese Communist Party's encroachment on Hong Kong's autonomy. He was arrested following a crackdown on pro-democracy protests in 2019 and is already serving sentences totally nearly ten years, including 20 months for his role in organising unauthorised demonstrations against police brutality, and five years and nine months on charges of fraud.

According to the IFJ's annual Killed List for 2025, China (including Hong Kong) continues to be the world's worst jailer of media workers with 143 currently imprisoned. IFJ has continued to document the effective destruction of civil liberties and press freedom since the introduction of the National Security Law, and has called on governments internationally to maintain vigilance in condemning the actions of the Hong Kong and Chinese governments and urging for respect to Hong Kong's Basic Law obligations.

The IFJ said: "This all too predictable conviction displays Hong Kong's complete disregard for press freedom and dire deterioration of democracy, as arbitrary national security and sedition charges continue to decimate the city's independent media. IFJ calls for Jimmy Lai's immediate release, the unconditional dropping of all charges against him, as well as those of all jailed journalists under the draconian National Security Law, and an end to the persecution of critical media workers."