RSF - Reporters sans frontières

09/15/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/16/2025 09:47

RSF calls for Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump to discuss jailed British media owner Jimmy Lai during US state visit to the UK

The son of Jimmy Lai, the British media owner unjustly jailed in Hong Kong for almost five years, has warned his father could die in jail unless the UK Government takes urgent, concrete action to secure his release. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to work with allies - including US President Donald Trump, who will visit the UK this week - to secure Jimmy Lai's release before it is too late.

Trump's state visit to the UK on 17-18 September offers a vital opportunity for the two leaders to discuss a joint strategy to secure Jimmy Lai's freedom. In August, Trump said he would do "everything I can to save" Jimmy Lai, having stated earlier this year that his freedom could form part of US trade talks with China. On the UK side, Starmer has said securing Jimmy Lai's release is a Government priority,though he has yet to meet Lai's family to discuss any concrete action. There is precedent for Trump effectively intervening in the cases of wrongfully detained journalists. Last week in Belarus, nine journalists were among a group of political prisoners freed following talks with the US administration.

"The US President's state visit offers a strategic opportunity to make progress on securing the release of Jimmy Lai, which is all the more urgent given his failing health. It is entirely unacceptable that the British Government has allowed an innocent, elderly British citizen to languish in solitary confinement - and if no action is taken soon, the reality is that he is likely to die there. We therefore call on the UK and US leaders to seize the moment before it is too late."

Fiona O'Brien
Director, RSF UK

Living in fear

At a press conference organised by RSF near the Prime Minister's residence on Downing Street on 15 September, Jimmy Lai's son Sebastien Lai said he was deeply worried about the declining health of his 77-year-old father, who suffers from heart problems, diabetes and other health impacts of more than 1,700 days in solitary confinement. He also reiterated his request to personally meet Starmer - whom he has yet to see, despite asking for a meeting for more than two years.

"As his show trial drags on, my father has spent yet another Hong Kong summer alone in a small cell, in sweltering temperatures, and the impact on his health has been devastating. Every single day, my family and I live in fear of receiving terrible news from the prison, and with no date even set for a verdict the fact is that time for my father is running out. I ask once again for the Prime Minister to agree to meet me, so we can discuss his urgent case and work together to bring him home.

Sebastien Lai
Son of Jimmy Lai

Repeated delays

Jimmy Lai, owner of Hong Kong's now defunct Apple Dailynewspaper, has been arbitrarily imprisoned in Hong Kong since December 2020 and faces a possible life sentence under politically motivated national security charges. He is currently awaiting a verdict in his trial, which has been characterised by repeated delays and serious due process violations.

His case has broad political support in the UK. Last week, the leaders of seven cross-party parliamentary groups wrote to Starmerasking him to urgently meet Sebastien Lai, noting that the case was not only extremely distressing for the Lai family but also emblematic of the wider erosion of press freedom in Hong Kong, where at least 28 journalists have been prosecuted since 2020.

RSF has also repeatedly called for Starmer to meet Sebastien Lai and in August led a coalition of more than 70 NGOs asking the prime minister to seek urgent medical parolefor Jimmy Lai.

Hong Kong is ranked 140th in the 2025 RSF World Press Freedom Index, having plummeted down the rankings from 18th place in just two decades. China comes in just two places from the bottom, at 178th.

Published on15.09.2025
  • EUROPE - CENTRAL ASIA
  • United Kingdom
  • THE AMERICAS
  • United States
  • ASIA-PACIFIC
  • Hong Kong
  • China
  • Arbitrary detention and proceedings
  • News
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