Hong Kong Court Set to Decide Former Media Mogul Jimmy Lai’s Sedition Case

A Hong Kong court will deliver its verdict on Monday in the trial of former pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai, a 78-year-old who has been charged with conspiracies to commit sedition and collusion with foreign forces. The case is being watched by foreign governments and political observers as a test of the city’s judicial independence and media freedom.

Background: From Clothing Chain to Press Power

Jimmy Lai began as a rags-to-rich tycoon, first owning the clothing chain Giordano before turning to media after the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown. He founded Apple Daily, a newspaper that quickly gained a reputation for tabloid-style coverage of politics and celebrities, and for its strong pro-democracy stance. The paper often urged readers to join protests and was known for its fierce editorial voice.

Arrest and the National Security Law

In August 2020, about 200 police officers raided Apple Daily’s building, arresting Lai under the national security law that Beijing imposed to quell the massive anti-government protests of 2019. He has remained in custody since December 2020. The law, which Beijing deems crucial for the city’s stability, has also been used to prosecute other leading activists and opposition politicians.

Within a year of Lai’s arrest, authorities used the same law to arrest senior executives of Apple Daily, raided its offices again and froze $2.3 million of its assets, effectively forcing the newspaper to shut down. The paper’s final edition sold out in hours, with readers scooping up all 1 million copies.

The Charges: Sedition and Collusion

The most serious accusation against Lai is that he and others invited the U.S. and other foreign powers to act against China with sanctions or other measures “under the guise of fighting for freedom and democracy.” Prosecutors argue that even though Lai stopped making direct requests for sanctions after the law took effect, he had tried to “create a false impression” of China to justify foreign punishment, pointing to articles and his comments in online broadcasts critical of Hong Kong and China.

Prosecutor Anthony Chau said Lai’s foreign connections showed his “unwavering intent to solicit” sanctions, blockades or other hostile activities against China and Hong Kong. The prosecution also alleged Lai conspired with fellow Apple Daily senior executives, members of the advocacy group “Fight for Freedom Stand with Hong Kong” and the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China to call for foreign actions.

Defense and Courtroom Exchanges

Lai’s lawyer, Robert Pang, said his client’s remarks were just armchair punditry, “akin to chatter over the dim sum table.” He also pressed the court to consider freedom of expression and accused the prosecution of treating human rights as a foreign concept, leading to testy exchanges. “It’s not wrong to support freedom of expression. It’s not wrong to support human rights,” Pang said. “Nor is it wrong not to love a particular administration or even the country.”

Judge Esther Toh responded that “It’s not wrong not to love the government, but if you do that by certain nefarious means, then it’s wrong.”

Foreign Contacts Under Scrutiny

Prosecutors highlighted Lai’s meetings with former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and then-Vice President Mike Pence during the height of the 2019 protests. Six Apple Daily senior executives involved in the case pleaded guilty in 2022 and some of them served as prosecution witnesses. Two other alleged co-conspirators linked to the “Stand with Hong Kong” group also testified against Lai, but the legal team called one of them a “serial liar” and argued that even if accepted, his testimony did not show that Lai had agreed to work with them as alleged.

Outside the courtroom, the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, an international political group critical of China, said in a statement that it rejected “false claims” regarding Lai’s involvement with its network.

International Attention

Lai, a British citizen, has drawn concerns from foreign governments, including the U.S. and the U.K. Both have called for his release. U.S. President Donald Trump said he has raised the case with China, and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said his government has made it a priority to secure the release of Lai.

Beijing has called Lai “an agent and pawn of anti-China foreign forces,” describing him as the main planner behind disruptive activities in the city.

Health Concerns and Legal Proceedings

In August, Pang said Lai had experienced heart palpitations and was given a heart monitor. His children raised concerns over his deteriorating health. The government said a medical examination of Lai found no abnormalities following his heart problems and that the medical care he received in custody was adequate.

The security law authorizes a range of sentences depending on the seriousness of the offense and the defendant’s role in it, from three years for the less serious to 10 years to life for people convicted of “grave” offenses. If Lai is convicted, sentencing is expected on a later day. He can appeal the outcome.

Key Takeaways

• Jimmy Lai’s trial, a 156-day case, is a landmark test of Hong Kong’s judicial independence.
• Lai faces charges of sedition and collusion, accused of soliciting foreign sanctions against China.
• International governments, including the U.S. and U.K., have called for his release.

The court’s verdict on Monday will carry implications for Hong Kong’s media freedom and its relationship with the mainland.

Closing

The outcome of Jimmy Lai’s trial will be a critical moment for Hong Kong’s future. Whether the court upholds the charges or finds the evidence insufficient, the case will continue to shape perceptions of the city’s commitment to civil liberties and the rule of law.