In a significant development in Hong Kong, pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai has been sentenced to 20 years in prison following his conviction in a pivotal national security trial. This case has come to embody Beijing’s suppression of dissent within the Chinese territory.
Lai, aged 78 and a well-known media entrepreneur, has been one of the most vocal critics of the Communist Party of China. Throughout the trial, Lai maintained his innocence against the charges. The U.S. and various other governments have condemned the proceedings, seeing them as politically driven and a threat to the dwindling press freedom in Hong Kong, which reverted to Chinese sovereignty from British rule in 1997.
There are also widespread concerns from rights groups and Lai’s family regarding his health, as he has endured over five years in incarceration, much of which was spent in solitary conditions. His son, Sebastien Lai, described the verdict—the most severe under the Beijing-enforced national security laws—as devastating for their family and perilous for his father, signalling a perceived complete erosion of Hong Kong’s legal integrity.
“After more than five years of relentlessly persecuting my father, it is time for China to do the right thing and release him before it is too late,”Sebastien Lai stated in a heartfelt message.
The court’s decision mandates that 18 years of Lai’s sentence are to run consecutively with another sanction. Alongside Lai, eight co-defendants, including six journalists from the now-closed Apple Daily and two activists, were handed prison sentences spanning from six years and three months to ten years. All co-defendants, except Lai, pleaded guilty and some testified against him in court.
In anticipation of this case, many camped for days outside the courthouse to secure public gallery seats, with police ensuring a barrier between them and reporters, and verifying their identities.
Lai’s arrest and charges date back to 2020, soon after a comprehensive national security statute was imposed by Beijing as a reaction to prolonged anti-government protests, which were at times marked by violence. Hong Kong officials argue that the statute was crucial to restoring stability, asserting Lai’s charges bear no relation to press restrictions.
John Lee, the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, has accused Lai of using the pro-democracy Apple Daily to mislead the populace, describing the sentence as “a great relief to all.” Local Chinese authorities have endorsed this sentiment, with national security police chief Steve Li dismissing concerns over Lai’s health as exaggerated.
A Hong Kong government spokesperson reiterated that Lai has received proper medical care and has requested separation from other inmates.
The case has garnered international attention. Notably, former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his intent to work for Lai’s release, feeling “so badly” after the December conviction for sedition and alliances with foreign nations. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, during a recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, also discussed Lai’s situation, highlighting his British citizenship.
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper expressed that Lai’s extensive imprisonment resembles a life sentence. She urged the Hong Kong authorities to halt his “appalling ordeal” and release him on humanitarian grounds, to enable a reunion with his family.
Hong Kong officials defend the judiciary’s autonomy, emphasizing its distinction from China’s legal system and accusing external forces of meddling in domestic matters. Last month, Chief Justice Andrew Cheung emphasized that calls for Lai’s early release could undermine the rule of law’s core principles.
Lai’s conviction encompassed conspiring to publish seditious writings under old colonial laws, and colluding with external powers, with three government-vetted judges dubbing him a “mastermind” behind attempts to influence foreign entities to impose sanctions against China and Hong Kong.
The 855-page judicial opinion highlighted Lai’s meetings with high-ranking U.S. officials such as former Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and national security adviser John Bolton during the 2019 protests.
Despite the right to appeal, Lai also faces prior convictions, including fraud and unlawful gatherings. In December 2022, a separate sentence of five years and nine months was handed for fraud.
The national security law and related statutes have significantly altered life in Hong Kong, once a vibrant international financial nexus promised civil liberties for 50 years post-1997 handover. The majority of pro-democracy leaders are either incarcerated, have exited politics, or have relocated.
Alarmingly, in Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index, Hong Kong’s position tumbled to 140th out of 180 nations and territories, down from 18th in 2002.
Jennifer Jett contributes as the Asia Digital Editor for NBC News, reporting from Hong Kong. This article also includes input from Reuters.