The BareStory
A Hong Kong court on Monday found pro-democracy activist and former media mogul Jimmy Lai, 78, guilty of conspiring to collude with foreign forces and conspiracy to publish seditious materials. The verdict was delivered by three government-vetted judges in a trial conducted without a jury. Lai, who had pleaded not guilty, faces a potential life sentence. Sentencing is scheduled for a later date, with hearings slated to begin on January 12.
The charges were brought under a national security law enacted in 2020. Prosecutors alleged Lai conspired with executives from his now-defunct newspaper, Apple Daily, to request foreign sanctions, pointing to 2019 meetings with former U.S. officials. In its judgment, the court stated that Lai and his publication had requested that a foreign country impose sanctions or other hostile activities against Hong Kong or China. A judge stated that Lai had extended a "constant invitation" to the U.S. to help bring down the Chinese government. Lai’s defense team argued that his calls for sanctions occurred before the security law took effect and that his actions were protected by freedom of expression.
The case has been monitored by the United States, Britain, and the European Union. According to one report, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has made securing the release of Lai, a British citizen, a priority. Another report stated that former U.S. President Donald Trump pressed the Chinese president to release Lai during a meeting in October. Rights organizations criticized the conviction, describing it as a blow to press freedom in the city.
Lai was arrested in August 2020 and has been in custody for five years. His Apple Daily newspaper was forced to close in 2021 after a police raid and asset freeze. Following the verdict, Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, said Lai had malicious intentions and harmed the country's interests. A spokesperson for Beijing's Foreign Ministry urged other nations to respect Hong Kong's legal system. Lai's family has raised concerns about his health, though the Hong Kong government stated a medical examination found no abnormalities.
How it may affect me
As a U.S. reader:
• The conviction, linked to Lai's meetings with U.S. officials to request sanctions, may heighten diplomatic and economic tensions between the U.S. and China.
• This case could create uncertainty for U.S. citizens engaging in political advocacy or journalism in Hong Kong, given the charge of colluding with foreign forces.
• The verdict may influence future U.S. policy regarding interactions with international activists, as Lai's conviction was tied to meetings with former U.S. officials.
