Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy figure Jimmy Lai has been found guilty of colluding with foreign forces under the city’s national security law and now faces the possibility of life in prison. His sentencing will be announced at a later date.
The 78-year-old, hailed by supporters as a champion of democracy and condemned by critics as a traitor, is the most prominent individual charged under the controversial law.
Beijing imposed the legislation in 2020 following the massive pro-democracy protests that swept Hong Kong the previous year. The law criminalizes acts deemed subversive, secessionist, or involving collusion with foreign forces—broad provisions that critics say have been used to suppress political dissent.
Lai, a British citizen and founder of the now-shuttered Apple Daily newspaper, has been detained since December 2020. He emerged as one of Beijing’s most vocal critics and a leading advocate for democratic reform in the former British colony.
In a 2020 BBC interview just hours before his arrest, he described himself as “a born rebel” with “a very rebellious character.”
Hong Kong authorities maintain that Lai received a fair trial under the rule of law. However, critics argue his prosecution demonstrates how the legal system is being wielded to silence political opposition.
Concerns have also been raised about Lai’s declining health in detention. His son, Sebastien, told the BBC in August that even a five-year sentence would be “practically the same as a death penalty” for his father.
By James Kisoo
