Jimmy Lai Sentenced to 20 Years in Hong Kong National Security Case

Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison on February 9, 2026, at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court, marking the harshest penalty under the Hong Kong National Security Law to date. He was convicted on charges of “conspiring with foreign or external forces to endanger national security” and “conspiring to publish seditious materials.”

The 78-year-old founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily had long criticized both Beijing and the Hong Kong government. He was first arrested in August 2020, with the case going through years of legal proceedings before his conviction in December 2025. The court found he had used media and international platforms to reach domestic and overseas audiences, soliciting foreign sanctions and blockades against Hong Kong and China. Considering he has already served more than five years in other cases, the court ruled he must serve the remaining 18 years consecutively.

Lai’s family and supporters expressed deep sorrow. His son called the sentence a “judicial collapse” condemning his father to spend his remaining life in prison, while his daughter described him as becoming a “prison martyr.” Human Rights Watch and other organizations highlighted his long detention and chronic health conditions, noting that long-term imprisonment for elderly prisoners is tantamount to a death sentence.

UK foreign ministers and UN human rights officials condemned the sentence, criticizing its political motivation and incompatibility with international law. The US and EU called for Lai’s immediate release, arguing the case undermines press freedom and Hong Kong’s reputation. Hong Kong and Chinese authorities maintain the conviction was lawful and just, asserting Lai’s actions endangered national security and emphasizing judicial independence, while the Hong Kong police’s national security unit stressed the sentence reflects the severity of the case.

Eight other defendants, including former Apple Daily executives and activists, received sentences ranging from six years and three months to ten years. Both local and international observers say the case illustrates intensified suppression of dissent under the National Security Law and raises concerns over Hong Kong’s fundamental rights and future judicial independence.