Reuters

Taiwan condemns 'harsh' sentence for Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai

Amnesty International

Hong Kong: Jimmy Lai jail sentence a cold-blooded attack on freedom of expression

The Washington Times

Hong Kong ex-media tycoon Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in prison in national security case

Hong Kong Free Press HKFP

Jimmy Lai jailed for 20 years in Hong Kong after nat. security conviction

XINHUA

Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in prison

China Daily

ChinaDailyAsia

South China Morning Post

Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai gets 20 years in prison for national security crimes

GB News

China sentences British democracy activist to two DECADES in jail - despite Keir Starmer's pleas

Guardian

Jimmy Lai, Hong Kong pro-democracy figure, sentenced to 20 years in prison for national security offences

Al Jazeera

Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in prison

Jimmy Lai: Hong Kong media tycoon sentenced to 20 years in prison after landmark national security trial

Metaculus

Human Freedom Index for China 2030

Jimmy Lai, a 78-year-old pro-democracy media tycoon and founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Hong Kong court on Monday. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/hong-kong-media-tycoon-jimmy-lai-convicted-under-security-law">He was convicted in December</a> on two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of conspiracy to publish seditious materials under Beijing's national security law.

Jimmy Lai, a 78-year-old pro-democracy media tycoon and founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Hong Kong court on Monday. He was convicted in December on two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of conspiracy to publish seditious materials under Beijing's national security law.

The sentence was handed down by three judges appointed under the national security law, with 18 years to be served consecutively to a previous five-year, nine-month fraud sentence. Given Lai's age, the prison term could keep him behind bars for the rest of his life, with his earliest possible release date in 2044, when he would be 96 years old.

The sentence was handed down by three judges appointed under the national security law, with 18 years to be served consecutively to a previous five-year, nine-month fraud sentence. Given Lai's age, the prison term could keep him behind bars for the rest of his life, with his earliest possible release date in 2044, when he would be 96 years old.

Six former Apple Daily executives and two activists were also sentenced on the same day, receiving jail terms ranging from six years and three months to 10 years. The convicted journalists included publisher Cheung Kim-hung, associate publisher Chan Pui-man, editor-in-chief Ryan Law, executive editor-in-chief Lam Man-chung and editorial writer Yeung Ching-kee.

Six former Apple Daily executives and two activists were also sentenced on the same day, receiving jail terms ranging from six years and three months to 10 years. The convicted journalists included publisher Cheung Kim-hung, associate publisher Chan Pui-man, editor-in-chief Ryan Law, executive editor-in-chief Lam Man-chung and editorial writer Yeung Ching-kee.

Apple Daily, founded by Lai in 1995, was forced to close in June 2021 after police raids, prosecutions and the freezing of its assets. The final edition sold a million copies. The newspaper was known for its critical reporting of the governments in Hong Kong and Beijing and for its support of the city's pro-democracy movement.

Apple Daily, founded by Lai in 1995, was forced to close in June 2021 after police raids, prosecutions and the freezing of its assets. The final edition sold a million copies. The newspaper was known for its critical reporting of the governments in Hong Kong and Beijing and for its support of the city's pro-democracy movement.

U.S. President Donald Trump and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer have both called for Lai's release, with Trump stating he spoke to Chinese leader Xi Jinping about the case. Starmer raised the issue during his January meeting with Xi in Beijing, telling Parliament that discussions would continue and that the Foreign Secretary was in touch with Lai's family.

U.S. President Donald Trump and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer have both called for Lai's release, with Trump stating he spoke to Chinese leader Xi Jinping about the case. Starmer raised the issue during his January meeting with Xi in Beijing, telling Parliament that discussions would continue and that the Foreign Secretary was in touch with Lai's family.

Human Rights Watch called it a death sentence, while the Committee to Protect Journalists stated the rule of law has been completely shattered in Hong Kong. Beijing and Hong Kong authorities have rejected criticism, saying the case has nothing to do with press freedom.

Human Rights Watch called it a death sentence, while the Committee to Protect Journalists stated the rule of law has been completely shattered in Hong Kong. Beijing and Hong Kong authorities have rejected criticism, saying the case has nothing to do with press freedom.

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Jimmy Lai, a 78-year-old pro-democracy media tycoon and founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Hong Kong court on February 9, 2026. He was convicted in December on two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of conspiracy to publish seditious materials under Beijing's national security law.

Jimmy Lai, a 78-year-old pro-democracy media tycoon and founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Hong Kong court on February 9, 2026. He was convicted in December on two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of conspiracy to publish seditious materials under Beijing's national security law.

The sentence was handed down by three judges appointed under the national security law, with 18 years to be served consecutively to a previous five-year, nine-month fraud sentence. Given Lai's age, the prison term could keep him behind bars for the rest of his life, with his earliest possible release date in 2044 when he would be 96 years old.

The sentence was handed down by three judges appointed under the national security law, with 18 years to be served consecutively to a previous five-year, nine-month fraud sentence. Given Lai's age, the prison term could keep him behind bars for the rest of his life, with his earliest possible release date in 2044 when he would be 96 years old.

Six former Apple Daily executives and two activists were also sentenced on the same day, receiving jail terms ranging from six years and three months to 10 years. The convicted journalists included publisher Cheung Kim-hung, associate publisher Chan Pui-man, editor-in-chief Ryan Law, executive editor-in-chief Lam Man-chung, and editorial writer Yeung Ching-kee.

Six former Apple Daily executives and two activists were also sentenced on the same day, receiving jail terms ranging from six years and three months to 10 years. The convicted journalists included publisher Cheung Kim-hung, associate publisher Chan Pui-man, editor-in-chief Ryan Law, executive editor-in-chief Lam Man-chung, and editorial writer Yeung Ching-kee.

Apple Daily, founded by Lai in 1995, was forced to close in June 2021 after police raids, prosecutions and a freeze of its assets. The final edition sold a million copies. The newspaper was known for its critical reports against the governments in Hong Kong and Beijing and its support of the city's pro-democracy movement.

Apple Daily, founded by Lai in 1995, was forced to close in June 2021 after police raids, prosecutions and a freeze of its assets. The final edition sold a million copies. The newspaper was known for its critical reports against the governments in Hong Kong and Beijing and its support of the city's pro-democracy movement.

US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer have both called for Lai's release, with Trump stating he spoke to Chinese leader Xi Jinping about the case. Starmer raised the issue during his meeting with Xi in Beijing in January, telling Parliament that discussions would continue and the Foreign Secretary was in touch with Lai's family.

US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer have both called for Lai's release, with Trump stating he spoke to Chinese leader Xi Jinping about the case. Starmer raised the issue during his meeting with Xi in Beijing in January, telling Parliament that discussions would continue and the Foreign Secretary was in touch with Lai's family.

Human rights organizations and press freedom groups condemned the sentence, with Human Rights Watch calling it effectively a death sentence and the Committee to Protect Journalists stating the rule of law has been completely shattered in Hong Kong. Beijing and Hong Kong authorities have rejected criticism, saying the case has nothing to do with press freedom.

Human rights organizations and press freedom groups condemned the sentence, with Human Rights Watch calling it effectively a death sentence and the Committee to Protect Journalists stating the rule of law has been completely shattered in Hong Kong. Beijing and Hong Kong authorities have rejected criticism, saying the case has nothing to do with press freedom.

Imprisoning a 78-year-old man for exercising fundamental rights exposes Hong Kong's transformation from rule of law to rule by fear. The National Security Law distorts basic freedoms into crimes, turning journalism and political speech into national security offenses. This cold-blooded attack on press freedom represents the systematic dismantling of rights that once defined Hong Kong.

Imprisoning a 78-year-old man for exercising fundamental rights exposes Hong Kong's transformation from rule of law to rule by fear. The National Security Law distorts basic freedoms into crimes, turning journalism and political speech into national security offenses. This cold-blooded attack on press freedom represents the systematic dismantling of rights that once defined Hong Kong.

The High Court properly convicted and sentenced Lai for conspiring to collude with foreign forces and publishing seditious materials under established law. Legislative intent clearly designates foreign collusion as a serious offense requiring severe penalties. The court appropriately rejected medical grounds for leniency in cases involving grave crimes against national security.

The High Court properly convicted and sentenced Lai for conspiring to collude with foreign forces and publishing seditious materials under established law. Legislative intent clearly designates foreign collusion as a serious offense requiring severe penalties. The court appropriately rejected medical grounds for leniency in cases involving grave crimes against national security.

Chinadaily

China-Taiwan Relations

The US-China Conflict

Hong Kong Media Tycoon Jimmy Lai Sentenced to 20 Years

China

Crime & justice

Imprisoning a 78-year-old man for exercising fundamental rights exposes Hong Kong's transformation from rule of law to rule by fear. The National Security Law distorts basic freedoms into crimes, turning journalism and political speech into national security offenses. This cold-blooded attack on press freedom highlights the systematic dismantling of rights that once defined Hong Kong.

Imprisoning a 78-year-old man for exercising fundamental rights exposes Hong Kong's transformation from rule of law to rule by fear. The National Security Law distorts basic freedoms into crimes, turning journalism and political speech into national security offenses. This cold-blooded attack on press freedom highlights the systematic dismantling of rights that once defined Hong Kong.

There's a 50% chance that China's score on the Human Freedom Index in 2030 will be 5.58 out of 10, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There's a 50% chance that China's score on the Human Freedom Index in 2030 will be 5.58 out of 10, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Hong Kong Media Tycoon Jimmy Lai Sentenced to 20 Years

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