Hong Kong’s judiciary on Monday handed down a lengthy 20-year prison sentence to prominent pro-democracy figure and media tycoon Jimmy Lai, concluding one of the city’s most prominent national security cases. The now-78-year-old founder of the former Apple Daily newspaper was convicted in December of conspiring to collude with foreign forces and publishing seditious materials under the Beijing-imposed national security law, a statute widely criticised by rights groups as a tool to suppress dissent. The sentence marks a stark turning point for civil liberties in the city and has drawn sharp international reactions from governments and press freedom advocates.

Lai, who has been held in custody since 2020, stood before a panel of government-appointed judges at the West Kowloon Court on Monday as the sentence was delivered. While convicted on multiple serious charges that carry penalties up to life imprisonment, the court settled on a 20-year term, reflecting both the gravity attributed to his actions and considerations of his age and health. Legal observers noted that Lai’s sentence will largely keep him incarcerated for the rest of his life, with the earliest theoretical release now projected for 2044 under local law provisions.

Long Legal Saga Ends With Hefty Prison Term

Lai’s legal journey under Hong Kong’s national security law has spanned nearly five years, beginning with his arrest in August 2020. He was convicted on 15 December 2025 for two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of conspiracy to publish seditious publications, charges authorities argued were linked to Apple Daily’s editorial campaigns and alleged appeals for foreign sanctions. Prosecutors characterised him as the mastermind of these conspiracies, a finding that bolstered the severity of the sentence.

In addition to Lai’s 20-year sentence, co-accused, including six former Apple Daily executives and two activists, received terms ranging from just over six years to 10 years after pleading guilty or assisting the prosecution. The court ruled that 18 years of Lai’s term would run consecutively to his prior nearly six-year sentence in an unrelated fraud conviction, effectively cementing his decades-long imprisonment.

Global Backlash And Domestic Impact

The sentence has prompted widespread international condemnation, with rights groups and foreign governments decrying it as politically motivated and symbolic of Hong Kong’s eroding freedoms. Organisations such as Reporters Without Borders and Amnesty International have described the ruling as a devastating blow to press freedom, arguing that legitimate journalistic activity has been criminalised under broad interpretations of “national security”. Critics warn that the harsh term may effectively turn Lai into a martyr figure and further chill independent reporting in the city.

Governments in Taipei, London and Washington have also voiced concern. Taiwan’s government labelled the sentence “harsh” and an affront to basic freedoms, calling for Lai’s immediate release, while officials in the United Kingdom and United States reiterated their appeals for leniency and insisted on diplomatic engagement over the case. Supporters and family members outside the courtroom expressed alarm over Lai’s declining health and the prospect that he may never be released.

Press Freedom At A Crossroads

The sentencing of Jimmy Lai is widely seen as a pivotal moment in Hong Kong’s post-2020 political landscape. Once a vibrant hub for independent media in Asia, the city’s press freedom rankings have fallen sharply as successive prosecutions under the national security law have targeted journalists, publishers and activists. Authorities maintain that the charges were unrelated to Lai’s journalistic endeavours and were strictly matters of legal compliance. However, critics argue that the broad application of national security provisions to media activity has blurred lines between legitimate criticism and criminal conduct.

As Lai begins his long prison term, observers say the case will continue to influence perceptions of Hong Kong’s autonomy, legal independence and the space for dissenting voices in the broader region.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store –  https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540 

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share