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Hong Kong Media Mogul Jimmy Lai Convicted in Landmark National Security Trial
HONG KONG – Jimmy Lai, a prominent Hong Kong activist and media tycoon known for his role in the 2019 pro-democracy protests, was convicted Monday in a high-profile national security trial. This verdict has drawn significant international attention and is seen as a symbol of Beijing’s escalating crackdown on dissent within the Chinese territory.
Lai, a vocal critic of China’s ruling Communist Party, was arrested in 2020 following the implementation of a sweeping national security law by Beijing. This law was enacted in response to the months-long anti-government protests in 2019, which at times turned violent.
The court found Lai guilty of two charges of colluding with foreign forces under the national security law. He was also convicted of conspiracy to publish seditious materials, an offense under legislation dating back to Hong Kong’s time as a British colony.
Lai, who recently turned 78, now faces a potential life sentence. His sentencing will occur at a later date, and he retains the right to appeal the conviction.
The trial, which spanned 156 days and commenced in December 2023, was presided over by three judges specifically chosen for national security cases. Western governments and human rights organizations have condemned the proceedings as politically motivated. Both the United States and Britain have called for the release of Lai, a British citizen.
Former President Donald Trump previously pledged to “free” Lai, prompting a warning last year from Hong Kong’s top leader, John Lee, against interference in the region’s internal affairs. A White House official confirmed last month that Trump discussed Lai’s case with Chinese President Xi Jinping during an October meeting in South Korea.
Lai’s trial is widely viewed as a critical test of Hong Kong’s judicial independence and press freedom. These civil liberties, modeled on Western standards, were guaranteed for 50 years when the city returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
Both the Hong Kong and Chinese governments maintain that Lai received a fair trial, asserting that criticism aims to undermine the city’s rule of law. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson affirmed Beijing’s strong support for the Hong Kong government in “bringing criminals who endanger national security to justice.”
Since his 2020 arrest, Lai has spent nearly five years in solitary confinement. During this period, he has been convicted on several other charges, including unauthorized assembly and fraud. Concerns about his health have grown among his family and supporters, as Lai suffers from diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart palpitations.
The Hong Kong government states that Lai has received “adequate and comprehensive” medical services while in custody. They also noted that individuals like Lai are separated from other prisoners at their own request to ensure their “personal safety and well-being.”
Prosecutors presented Lai as the “mastermind” of an alleged conspiracy with activists to lobby foreign nations, including the U.S., for sanctions and other forms of pressure against China and Hong Kong. They cited meetings Lai held with U.S. officials, including then-Vice President Mike Pence, during the peak of the 2019 protests.
Additionally, Lai is accused of using Apple Daily, the now-defunct pro-democracy tabloid he founded in 1995, to publish a series of allegedly seditious articles that prosecutors claimed incited hatred towards the Hong Kong and Chinese governments.
Lai, who testified for 52 days, denied using his international connections to influence foreign policy regarding China and Hong Kong. He also asserted that his intention was not to “pollute” readers’ minds but merely to comment on facts.
John Burns, an emeritus professor specializing in Chinese politics at the University of Hong Kong, expressed uncertainty about the long-term significance of Lai’s conviction for Hong Kong’s press freedom and autonomy.
While the Lai trial is Hong Kong’s most high-profile case stemming from the crackdown, Burns suggested that two other cases from last year had “much more significant” implications for the city’s human rights situation. These include the conviction of two journalists for sedition in connection with their work for the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Stand News, and subversion charges against 47 pro-democracy figures involved in an unofficial primary election, 45 of whom were convicted or pleaded guilty.
Open dissent in Hong Kong has been significantly curtailed under the Beijing-imposed national security law and related local legislation. Officials contend these laws were necessary to restore stability after the 2019 protests. As a result, most of the city’s pro-democracy figures have either been imprisoned, left politics, or moved overseas.
The Lai verdict closely follows the disbandment of Hong Kong’s last major opposition party, the Democratic Party, which cited pressure from Chinese officials or intermediaries after a member vote.
This also comes a week after a “patriots only” legislative election, held under rules revised in 2021 to require national security vetting of candidates. Officials defend these new rules as essential for stability, while critics argue they have marginalized groups like the Democratic Party and left the legislature without meaningful opposition.
Voter turnout for this election was a near-record low of 31.9%, significantly lower than in elections prior to the legal overhaul.