Ex-Apple Daily Editor Appeals 10-Year Sentence in Hong Kong National Security Case

Hong Kong – Lam Man-chung, the former executive editor-in-chief of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, has filed an appeal against his 10-year prison sentence imposed under the national security law. The appeal was lodged at the Court of Appeal on Friday, March 8, 2026, ahead of the statutory deadline according to the South China Morning Post.

Background of the Case

Lam, 56, was sentenced last month for conspiracy to collude with foreign forces. He pleaded guilty to conspiring to request foreign countries to impose sanctions, blockade, or engage in hostile activities against China and Hong Kong. This case is linked to Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, the 78-year-vintage founder of Apple Daily, who received a 20-year sentence for similar charges as reported by Hong Kong Free Press.

Lai Will Not Appeal

Jimmy Lai has instructed his lawyers not to appeal his conviction and 20-year jail term, one of his lawyers, speaking anonymously, told Hong Kong Free Press. Lai was convicted in December on two counts of conspiring to collude with foreign forces and one count of conspiring to publish seditious materials. His sentence is the heaviest penalty handed down so far under the Beijing-imposed national security law.

Other Defendants

Lam is the second defendant to appeal. Fung Wai-kong, managing editor of Apple Daily’s English edition, submitted a similar application last week. Lam, Fung, and six other co-defendants initially pleaded guilty before Lai’s trial in 2023, with five of them testifying for the prosecution. Ryan Law Wai-kwong, former editor-in-chief, also received a 10-year sentence but has not filed an appeal .

National Security Law and Press Freedom

The case highlights the ongoing concerns about press freedom in Hong Kong following the implementation of the national security law in June 2020. The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) condemned Lai’s 20-year sentence, calling it “the equivalent to a death sentence” according to SPJ.org. Jimmy Lai, a prominent pro-democracy activist, founded the clothing retailer Giordano before becoming a media mogul as detailed in his Wikipedia entry.