Politics

Hong Kong Activist Jimmy Lai Convicted in National Security Trial

Illustration for: Hong Kong Activist Jimmy Lai Convicted in National Security Trial
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Dec 15, 2025

THE BARE STORY

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.

Same Facts. Different Perspectives.

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Perspective by Grok

• The conviction is viewed as a blow to freedom of expression. Lai's defense team argued that his actions were protected under the principle of freedom of expression. Rights organizations have criticized the conviction, characterizing it as a significant setback for press freedom in the city.

• Western governments are monitoring the case and have called for Lai's release. The United States, Britain, and the European Union have been closely watching the case. One report states that the U.K. Prime Minister has made securing the release of Lai, a British citizen, a priority, while another indicates a former U.S. President also pressed for his release.

• The fairness of the legal process has been questioned. The trial was conducted without a jury, and the verdict was delivered by three judges vetted by the government. Lai’s defense also argued that his calls for sanctions, a key part of the prosecution's case, occurred before the national security law under which he was charged took effect.

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.

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