🔗 Share this article

The city's pro-freedom activist and publishing magnate Jimmy Lai has been found guilty of conspiring with foreign forces under the territory's disputed NSL.

The 78-year-old, who has been in jail since late 2020, had pleaded not guilty. He could receive life in prison and is expected to be handed a sentence early next year.

The tribunal found that Lai used his now-closed Apple Daily newspaper as part of a broader effort to pressure overseas administrations to enact sanctions on Hong Kong and China.

Hong Kong's leader applauded the verdict, noting that Lai's actions "harmed the nation's well-being and the welfare of Hong Kongers," while human rights organizations labeled it "a harsh judicial farce."

The Charges and Court Case

There is "no doubt" that Jimmy Lai "held animosity" for the People's Republic of China, the judge said, citing his "repeated invitation to the US to help bring down the government."

When Lai gave evidence previously, he rejected all accusations against him, asserting he had "never" used his overseas connections to influence foreign policy on Hong Kong.

Lai, a British national and one of the fiercest detractors of the Chinese state, was a central player in the pro-democracy protests that engulfed Hong Kong in 2019.

The NSL was enacted in reaction and gave authorities extensive authority to prosecute and imprison people they deemed a threat.

Monday's decision also found Lai guilty of publishing seditious material under a separate colonial-era law.

Global Response and Judicial Concerns

"His spirit is okay," his legal counsel said after the judgment. "The judgement is so lengthy that we'll need some time to review it first."

"Authorities targeted Jimmy Lai with the aim of muzzling all those who choose to censure the CCP," said a rights organization's Asia Director.

Western governments, such as the UK and US, have for years called for Lai's release, which Beijing and Hong Kong have rejected.

A Test of Judicial Independence

Lai's trial was largely viewed as a test of court autonomy for Hong Kong's legal system, which have been accused of following Beijing's line.

Critics point to the scores of activists jailed under the NSL - and its nearly 100% success rate for prosecutors.

Bail is also frequently denied in NSL cases, notwithstanding concerns about failing well-being raised by Lai's relatives and advocates.

The Hong Kong government has also been faulted for preventing foreign lawyers from working on NSL cases without special approval.

From Businessman to Activist

Lai, who fled to Hong Kong as a youth, got his footing as a businessman after founding an international clothing brand.

His path as a democracy activist began after the 1989 Tiananmen demonstrations in Beijing.

He started writing columns and went on to establish a string of widely-read pro-democracy publications.

Even now, many Hong Kongers see him as a prominent figure for democracy, with many queuing to enter the court ahead of the verdict.

In his testimony, Lai had said he "did not permit" his newspaper's staff to promote Hong Kong independence, which he called a "plot" and "too crazy to think about."

"The core values of Apple Daily are actually the fundamental principles of the people of Hong Kong," he had said, including the "rule of law, freedom, pursuit of democracy, free expression."