Three government-appointed judges of the Hong Kong High Court have found Jimmy Lai, the former owner of the now-defunct Hong Kong tabloid, Apple Daily, guilty of two counts of conspiring with foreign forces and one count of sedition.
The verdict was delivered in an 855-page judgment on December 15, with the 78-year-old Lai pleading not guilty to all charges. Among the observers in attendance were his wife Teresa, his son Sebastien, and many members of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement. Following the court's verdict, a four-day mitigation hearing is set for mid-January 2026 and will be followed shortly thereafter by sentencing. Lai faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Doubts of Judicial Independence
Apple Daily was known for its critical stance towards the Hong Kong government and the Chinese Communist Party. Police raided its newsroom and arrested top executives in 2020.
Conducted without a jury and presided over by three Beijing-appointed judges, the trial has attracted international attention as a sign of the deterioration of media freedom and judicial independence in Hong Kong.
The court accepted 161 articles, social media posts, and messages from Apple Daily as evidence during the trial, including records of Lai's meetings with former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during the peak of the 2019 protests.
Throughout his trial, Lai argued that he did not call for foreign sanctions after the National Security Law came into effect, maintaining his actions were protected under freedom of speech.
U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned raising Lai's case with China, and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stated that ensuring the release of Lai, a British citizen, is a government priority.
Health Concerns
Lai has since been detained in a maximum-security prison on charges of violating the Hong Kong National Security Law for over five years, most of that time in solitary confinement
Concerns over his health have been raised during his detention, with his daughter previously mentioning that her father's health had visibly deteriorated during his time in custody, noting issues with his nails and teeth, as well as persistent back pain and infections. （Related： TSMC's Second Plant in Japan Reportedly Halts Construction ｜ Latest ）
He has experienced palpitations while in detention and suffers from diabetes, hypertension, and heart issues. The Hong Kong government stated that Lai has received adequate medical care, with no heart abnormalities detected.
