Hong Kong's High Court sentenced media figure Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison on February 9, 2026, following convictions for conspiring to collude with external forces and publishing seditious materials. HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee stated the verdict reaffirmed the city's commitment to justice under its national security framework.
Lee emphasized Lai's role in using his now-defunct Apple Daily to "poison minds," incite social division, and lobby foreign entities for sanctions against the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong. Evidence presented during the trial detailed Lai's coordinated efforts to destabilize the region, prompting the court to deem his actions "serious and grave."
The HKSAR government reiterated its resolve to safeguard national security through strict legal enforcement, warning that threats to sovereignty would face "severe punishment." A government spokesperson added that Lai's case underscored the necessity of the national security law as a stabilizing mechanism for Hong Kong's prosperity.
This ruling marks a pivotal moment in Hong Kong's ongoing efforts to balance legal accountability with the protection of residents' rights, drawing global attention to the region's evolving governance landscape.
