In a landmark verdict with far-reaching implications, Hong Kong's court on Monday convicted pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai on charges of conspiring with foreign forces. The 78-year-old founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper faces the possibility of life imprisonment, capping a trial that has become a global barometer for freedoms in the city.
The Verdict and the Charges
After a marathon 156-day trial held without a jury, three government-vetted judges found Jimmy Lai guilty of two serious offenses. The court ruled he was involved in conspiracy to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security and conspiracy to publish seditious publications. Lai, who has been in custody since his arrest in August 2020, pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Reading from an 855-page verdict, Judge Esther Toh stated that Lai had extended a "constant invitation" to the United States to help undermine the Chinese government, using the pretext of aiding Hong Kong citizens. The judges concluded that Lai was the mastermind of the conspiracies and that his evidence was often contradictory and unreliable.
International Reaction and Family's Anguish
The trial's outcome has triggered strong reactions from Western governments and rights groups. The United States, United Kingdom, and European Union condemned the verdict, with the UK summoning the Chinese ambassador to protest. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the national security law was being used to silence dissent.
Lai's family expressed devastation. His son, Sebastien Lai, speaking in London, claimed the lengthy verdict contained "essentially nothing" that incriminated his father. He called it a "perfect example" of how the law has been weaponized against critics. His daughter, Claire Lai, in Washington, lamented that her dream of a reunion would not come through Hong Kong's "highly compromised" legal system.
Health Concerns and Legal Context
Throughout the trial, concerns were raised about Lai's rapidly declining health. His legal team and children reported he had lost significant weight, suffered from heart palpitations, infections, and other ailments during his years in custody, much of it in solitary confinement. Hong Kong authorities maintained that medical services provided to him were adequate.
Lai was prosecuted under the national security law imposed by Beijing in June 2020, following the massive anti-government protests of 2019. Prosecutors argued that Lai conspired with Apple Daily executives to urge foreign countries to impose sanctions or blockades against China and Hong Kong. They highlighted his meetings with former U.S. officials Mike Pence and Mike Pompeo in July 2019.
While Lai's lawyers admitted he called for foreign sanctions before the law took effect, they insisted he stopped afterwards. The judges, however, ruled his intention to destabilize China's ruling Communist Party never wavered, continuing "in a less explicit way."
Sentencing will occur at a later date, with hearings for mitigation scheduled. The Apple Daily was forced to shut down in 2021 after a police raid and asset freeze. The case continues to be a pivotal test for Hong Kong's judicial independence and its future under Chinese rule.
