Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, marking the longest sentence handed down under the city’s national security law to date. The sentence, delivered on , follows Lai’s conviction in December 2025 on charges of collusion with foreign forces and conspiracy to publish seditious materials. The 78-year-old founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper has been detained for over five years, already serving a separate prison term for fraud.
The court stated that the 20-year term was determined after considering the “serious and grave criminal conduct” of Lai. However, two years of the sentence will run concurrently with his existing fraud conviction, meaning he will serve an additional 18 years. This lengthy sentence underscores the increasingly stringent application of the national security law, imposed by Beijing in 2020 in response to widespread pro-democracy protests.
Lai’s case has drawn significant international criticism, with concerns raised about the erosion of press freedom and the rule of law in Hong Kong. U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly raised Lai’s case with Chinese President Xi Jinping in October 2025, advocating for his release, though without initiating further action. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also discussed Lai’s situation with Xi during a visit to Beijing last month, calling for his release given Lai’s British citizenship. Starmer indicated that discussions on the matter would continue, with the UK’s foreign secretary remaining in contact with Lai’s family.
The national security law, enacted in the wake of the 2019 protests, criminalizes acts of secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces. Critics argue that the law has been used to suppress dissent and curtail fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong, which was previously known for its relative autonomy and robust press. Lai was among the first prominent figures arrested under the law in .
Apple Daily, a pro-democracy tabloid founded by Lai, ceased operations in after police arrested several senior journalists and froze the company’s assets. The final edition of the newspaper sold a million copies, demonstrating the public’s support for the publication and its independent voice. The closure of Apple Daily marked a significant blow to Hong Kong’s media landscape.
The 20-year sentence surpasses the 10-year term given to activist Benny Tai in November 2024 for conspiring to subvert state power, establishing a new benchmark for the severity of punishments under the national security law. Human Rights Watch’s Asia director, Elaine Pearson, described the sentence as “cruel and profoundly unjust.”
Prosecutors alleged that Lai conspired with six former Apple Daily staffers, two activists, and others to lobby foreign governments for sanctions against Hong Kong and to engage in activities detrimental to the city’s security. Lai pleaded not guilty to the charges of collusion with foreign forces and conspiracy to publish seditious materials.
Beyond his role as a media mogul, Lai is also a devout Catholic, and his faith has reportedly sustained him throughout his imprisonment. His family has described his incarceration as deepening his religious convictions. He converted to Catholicism in 1997 and raised his children in a Catholic household.
The sentencing is likely to further strain diplomatic relations between China and Western governments, particularly the United States and the United Kingdom. Taiwan’s government also issued a statement on , calling the sentence “harsh” and a violation of freedom of speech and the press, as well as the right to hold those in power accountable. Hong Kong authorities, however, maintain that the case was not an attack on press freedom, asserting that Lai used his media platform as a pretext for activities that threatened China and Hong Kong’s security.
The long-term implications of Lai’s sentencing remain to be seen, but it undoubtedly signals a continued crackdown on dissent and a further erosion of the freedoms that once characterized Hong Kong. The case serves as a stark warning to other pro-democracy activists and journalists in the city, and raises concerns about the future of Hong Kong’s role as an international financial and media hub.
