Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai found guilty: What led to the pro-democracy tycoon’s national security trial

Jimmy Lai Photographer: Chan Long Hei/Bloomberg

Pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai, 78, was convicted on Monday in a landmark national security case in Hong Kong. Lai, a vocal critic of Beijing and founder of the now-shuttered Apple Daily, was found guilty on two counts of foreign collusion and one charge of seditious publication. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. Sentencing is expected at a later date, and under Hong Kong’s sweeping national security law, he could face life imprisonment.

"There is no doubt in our minds that [Lai] had never wavered in his intention to destabilise the government of the [Chinese Communist Party]," High Court judge Esther Toh said. The court added, "The ultimate cost was to sacrifice the interests of the people" of China and Hong Kong.

Lai was arrested in August 2020, during a raid on the Apple Daily offices by about 200 police officers. He was charged under Hong Kong’s national security law, imposed by Beijing after massive anti-government protests in 2019, targeting activists and opposition figures. The law was deemed essential by authorities to maintain the city's stability.

His arrest marked one of the first high-profile prosecutions under the law. Many civil society groups have since closed, and tens of thousands of Hong Kong residents have emigrated to countries including the UK, Canada, Taiwan, Australia, and the US.

Lai, a former Giordano clothing chain owner turned media tycoon, founded Apple Daily after the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown. His newspaper became known for its pro-democracy stance, tabloid-style political coverage, and encouragement of public protests. Lai himself actively participated in demonstrations, including the 2019 protests, before his arrest.

Within a year of his arrest, authorities froze $2.3 million of Apple Daily’s assets, forcing the newspaper to shut down. Its final edition sold out quickly, reflecting Lai’s continued support among pro-democracy readers.

Prosecutors accused Lai of inviting foreign countries, including the US, to impose sanctions or hostile measures against China under the guise of promoting democracy. Central to the case were his meetings with former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Vice President Mike Pence during the 2019 protests.

Prosecutor Anthony Chau argued that Lai’s foreign connections demonstrated his "unwavering intent to solicit" sanctions, blockades, or other hostile actions against China and Hong Kong. Lai allegedly conspired with senior Apple Daily executives and advocacy groups like Fight for Freedom Stand with Hong Kong and the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China.

Lai’s lawyer, Robert Pang, countered that his client’s comments were mere armchair punditry, "akin to chatter over the dim sum table." He insisted, "It’s not wrong to support freedom of expression. It’s not wrong to support human rights. Nor is it wrong not to love a particular administration or even the country." Judge Toh responded, "It’s not wrong not to love the government, but if you do that by certain nefarious means, then it’s wrong."

The trial drew global scrutiny as a test of Hong Kong’s judicial independence and media freedom. The US and UK governments, including statements from President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, have urged Hong Kong authorities to secure Lai’s release. Beijing, however, described him as "an agent and pawn of anti-China foreign forces."

Lai has faced health issues in custody, including heart palpitations, which prompted medical monitoring. Under the national security law, sentences range from three years for minor offenses to life imprisonment for grave offenses. Lai retains the right to appeal the verdict.