Jimmy Lai, a former newspaper publisher and one of Hong Kong’s most outspoken critics of China’s communist regime, has been convicted in a national security trial—a case that has drawn international scrutiny amid Hong Kong’s continued erosion of freedoms.
Lai, 78, founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, was convicted on Monday local time on all three charges against him—two counts of “conspiracy to collude with foreign forces” under the Beijing-imposed national security law and one count of “sedition” under a colonial-era sedition law.
Lai, who has pleaded not guilty to all three charges, will be sentenced at a later date. He could face life in prison.
Lai was arrested in August 2020 and has been imprisoned for more than 1,800 days since being charged in December 2020.
His lawyers and family have expressed concerns about inadequate specialized care for Lai’s diabetes. His son, Sebastien Lai, has reported his father’s condition has visibly deteriorated, with significant weight loss and frailty.
Sebastien said that for the past five years, Lai has been kept in solitary confinement and has been deprived of sunlight and fresh air.
The conviction immediately drew international criticism.
“It is another sad reminder that Hong Kong arbitrarily detains political prisoners at a rate like Venezuela or Burma. That Hong Kong once vaunted rule of law system is gone, is now undeniable,” the commission added. “Lai should never have been arrested, and now should be free unconditionally to be reunited with his family.”
“This unlawful conviction only demonstrates the alarming deterioration of media freedom in the territory: make no mistake: it is not an individual who has been on trial—it is press freedom itself, and with this verdict that has been shattered,” Bruttin said.
“Democracies must finally act, and act fast: if they don’t, Lai will die in jail, and they will send a clear signal to the Chinese regime that it can spread its authoritarian model and violate international law, scot-free.”
Beh Lih Yi, Asia-Pacific director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, also called for his immediate release, saying that his poor health puts him at risk of dying while he remains in prison.
“The ruling underscores Hong Kong’s utter contempt for press freedom, which is supposed to be protected under the city’s mini-constitution, the Basic Law. Jimmy Lai’s only crime is running a newspaper and defending democracy.”
