Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in national security trial

Hong Kong High Court on Monday sentenced Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison, the harshest penalty imposed so far under national security law. 

The 78-year-old media tycoon was convicted in December 2025 on two counts of conspiring to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security and one count of conspiring to publish seditious materials.   

The court described Lai as the “mastermind and driving force” behind a years-long campaign that included urging foreign governments to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and China.  

The court ruled that the engagement of a foreign entity in endangering national security is regarded as more serious and “deserving of a more serious penalty".  

Lai has already spent more than five years in custody on separate fraud charges related to his media company. The sentence means he will likely remain imprisoned well into his 90s.

Eight other defendants, including former Apple Daily staff and members of the “Stand with Hong Kong” activist group, received prison sentences ranging from 6 years and 3 months to 10 years. Three companies linked to the newspaper, who are already insolvent, were each fined more than HK$3 million. 

The verdict sparked strong criticism from the international community. The UK’s Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the term is “tantamount to a life sentence” in a statement. The Committee to Protect Journalists also called the decision the “final nail in the coffin for freedom of the press in Hong Kong”.  

Hong Kong and Beijing officials said the ruling upholds the rule of law and safeguards national security. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said in a statement, “Lai’s actions sacrificed the well-being of the people, betrayed the country, harmed Hong Kong and damaged the interests of both the nation and the city. Lai deserved the punishment.”   

This case marks the first full sentencing under the national security law for “collusion with foreign forces.” It comes nearly five years since Apple Daily was forced to cease operations in 2021 following a series of police raids and asset freezes. 

The legal teams representing Jimmy Lai and the other defendants have not yet indicated whether they will appeal the verdict.