Jimmy Lai, a pro-democracy leader and critic of the Chinese Communist Party, was found guilty on three charges of sedition and collusion with foreign forces. The 78-year-old British citizen faces up to life in prison after being in detention since 2020.
Lai’s supporters, including former Hong Kong bishop Cardinal Joseph Zen, were present outside the courthouse as the verdict was read. His daughter, Claire Lai, warned that her father’s health is deteriorating while in custody, sparking international condemnation.
The case marks a significant blow to press freedoms and judicial independence in Hong Kong. Critics argue that the verdict sets a precedent for silencing dissenting voices in the city.
Lai had launched his pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily before Britain returned control of Hong Kong to China in 1997. Since then, he has been a vocal advocate for democracy and human rights in the territory. His conviction is seen as an attempt by Beijing to silence opposition voices in Hong Kong.
Human rights groups, including the Campaign for Hong Kong, have condemned the verdict as evidence of the city’s erosion of freedoms. Western countries, such as the UK and US, have also expressed concern over Lai’s detention and potential extradition.
As Lai awaits his sentence, international pressure on Beijing continues to grow. The case has sparked calls for greater intervention from Western governments to secure Lai’s release and protect Hong Kong’s democracy movement.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/12/14/hong-kong-jimmy-lai-apple-china-verdict