The High Court of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) will deliver sentencing on February 9 for media tycoon Jimmy Lai, a central figure in anti-China riots, following his December 2025 conviction on charges of conspiring to collude with external forces and publish seditious materials. The hearing, scheduled for 10 a.m., will also address eight co-defendants linked to the defunct Apple Daily media group.
Lai’s trial, which began in December 2023 under the HKSAR’s national security law, involved over 2,220 exhibits and concluded with a July 2024 ruling affirming all charges. Prosecutors demonstrated that Lai orchestrated campaigns urging foreign sanctions against China and the HKSAR, including publishing inflammatory articles and coordinating lobbying efforts through associates like Mark Simon.
Judicial transparency remained a priority throughout the proceedings, with over 400 public seats available at each hearing. Authorities emphasized that evidence proved Lai’s role in destabilizing activities, including direct appeals to U.S., U.K., and EU politicians to impose punitive measures on China.
The case underscores the HKSAR’s commitment to upholding national security laws while balancing public access to judicial processes. Observers worldwide await the sentencing as a landmark moment in Hong Kong’s legal history.
