Hong Kong: A Hong Kong court on Monday found pro democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai guilty in a closely watched national security trial that has drawn strong international reaction and renewed concerns about press freedom and political space in the city.
Jimmy Lai aged 78 was convicted by the High Court on charges of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and publishing seditious material. The case was brought under the national security law imposed in 2020 following months of mass protests in Hong Kong.
Lai is the founder of the now closed pro democracy newspaper Apple Daily and has long been a vocal critic of the Chinese government and Hong Kong authorities. Prosecutors argued that he used his media platform and international contacts to call for sanctions and foreign pressure on Hong Kong and China. Lai denied the accusations and said he was exercising freedom of expression and journalism.
The trial was conducted without a jury as permitted under the national security law. It lasted several months and was widely seen as one of the most important legal tests of the law since its introduction. Supporters of Lai queued overnight outside the court ahead of the verdict showing the deep public interest and emotion surrounding the case.
Lai has already spent more than five years in detention and his lawyers and family have raised concerns about his health. The court said sentencing would take place at a later date with Lai facing the possibility of a lengthy prison term including life imprisonment.
The verdict prompted swift reactions from abroad. Governments including the United Kingdom the United States and several European countries expressed concern and described the ruling as a blow to media freedom and the rule of law in Hong Kong. Human rights organisations said the conviction sends a chilling message to journalists activists and opposition voices.
Hong Kong and Chinese authorities defended the verdict saying the case was handled according to law and that no one is above national security requirements. Officials rejected claims that the trial was politically motivated and said the law is necessary to maintain stability.
Lai’s conviction is seen by many observers as symbolic of the changing political landscape in Hong Kong where dozens of activists politicians and civil society figures have been arrested or jailed in recent years. The closure of Apple Daily after the arrest of its senior staff is often cited as a major setback for independent journalism.
As the city awaits sentencing the case continues to resonate beyond the courtroom shaping global debate about freedoms the future of Hong Kong and relations between China and Western nations.