Jimmy Lai, the founder of Apple Daily, has been handed a 20-year prison term in one of Hong Kong’s highest-profile national security cases since the introduction of sweeping legislation by Beijing in 2020. The sentence, which is the harshest to date under the law, draws global attention to Hong Kong’s evolving political environment and the status of press freedoms in the city.
Lai, 78, was found guilty in December on charges including collusion with foreign entities, threats to national security, and conspiracy to produce seditious content. He has been held in custody for over five years, concurrently serving time for unrelated fraud offenses.
As a prominent critic of Beijing and founder of the now-closed pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, Lai has been a central figure in debates over Hong Kong’s autonomy and freedom of the press.
His most recent sentencing exceeds previous national security law penalties, notably surpassing the ten-year sentence given to activist Benny Tai in 2024 for conspiring to undermine state authority. Prosecutors argued that Lai collaborated with several former Apple Daily employees, activists, and others to encourage foreign governments to impose punitive measures against Hong Kong.
The case has triggered strong condemnation internationally, including appeals for Lai’s release from leaders such as U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Both Chinese and Hong Kong officials have consistently denied that his imprisonment is politically charged, instead defending the proceedings as legitimate enforcement of the law.
Lai’s British citizenship has brought additional diplomatic focus, with the British government urging authorities in Beijing to reconsider his case. The criticism underscores ongoing concerns among global observers about constraints on political dissent and press freedoms since the national security law took effect.
