Hong Kong court convicts democracy activist Jimmy Lai on conspiracy charges
Al Jazeera1 day
Jimmy Lai Found Guilty in Hong Kong Sedition Trial
Is this political persecution of press freedom, or legitimate prosecution of foreign collusion against China?
Above: Jimmy Lai (C) arrives at the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong on Feb. 9, 2021. Image credit: Isaac Lawrence/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Anti-China narrative
Jimmy Lai's conviction symbolizes the complete destruction of Hong Kong's judicial system and press freedom under Beijing's authoritarian control, with grave consequences for the global rule of law. This show trial denied Lai his constitutional right to a jury, prosecuting him for journalism and meetings with diplomats that would never have been crimes before the 2020 National Security Law. His conviction is a politically driven blow to Hong Kong's freedoms and legal stature.
Pro-China narrative
Lai worked directly to advance U.S. government interests at the expense of Hong Kong, not for its people. His assistant Mark Simon came from U.S. military intelligence, and Lai himself told the White House, "We are fighting your war in your enemy camp." Overwhelming evidence from his own phone revealed secret messages with hostile foreign operatives and massive cash distributions to anti-China groups funded by U.S. regime-change organizations.
Metaculus Prediction
There's a 50% chance that Hong Kong will stop being a Special Administrative Region of China by February 2047, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
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CRITICAL
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© 2025 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 6.18.0
© 2025 Improve the News Foundation.
All rights reserved.
Version 6.18.0