Jimmy Lai: Hong Kong Media Tycoon Sentenced to 20 Years in Jail
Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for colluding with foreign forces under the city’s national security law. The sentence, handed down on February 10, 2026, is the harshest yet issued under the controversial law imposed by Beijing in 2020. Six former senior staff members of Lai’s Apple Daily newspaper also received sentences ranging from 6 years and 3 months to 10 years for similar charges.
Background: Jimmy Lai and Apple Daily
Jimmy Lai, 78, is a Hong Kong businessman, politician and activist. He founded the Giordano retail chain and, more prominently, the Apple Daily newspaper, which became a vocal pro-democracy voice in Hong Kong. Lai is also a British citizen.
Apple Daily, one of Hong Kong’s most popular Chinese-language newspapers with a daily circulation of 86,000 at its peak, was known for its critical coverage of the Chinese government and its support for the pro-democracy movement. The newspaper ceased publication on June 24, 2021, after authorities raided its offices and froze its assets.
The Charges and Trial
Lai was convicted on December 15, 2025, on two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of conspiracy to publish seditious material. The court described him as the “mastermind and driving force” behind the alleged conspiracies.
The six former Apple Daily staff members sentenced alongside Lai include: Ryan Law (10 years), Lam Man-chung (10 years), Fung Wai-kong (10 years), Cheung Kim-hung (6 years and 9 months), Chan Pui-man (7 years), and Yeung Ching-kee (7 years and 3 months). They had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to collude with foreign forces in 2022 in exchange for leniency on another charge.
International Reaction and Concerns
The sentencing has drawn widespread condemnation from international rights groups and governments. Critics have labeled the trial a sham and argue that the national security law is being used to suppress dissent and erode freedoms in Hong Kong.
Lai’s son, Sebastien Lai, has criticized the UK government’s response to his father’s imprisonment and called for stronger action. He also criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s recent visit to China as a missed opportunity to advocate for his father’s release.
The World Editors Forum and WAN-IFRA (World Association of News Publishers) have repeatedly called for Lai’s release and highlighted the dangers faced by journalists in Hong Kong. Lai and the Apple Daily staff were awarded WAN-IFRA’s Golden Pen of Freedom in 2021 in recognition of their commitment to press freedom.
Health Concerns and Future Prospects
Concerns have been raised about Lai’s deteriorating health. He suffers from hypertension, diabetes, and cataracts and has spent much of his detention in solitary confinement with limited access to daylight.
With a 20-year sentence, Lai, 78, is likely to remain in prison for the rest of his life. The case underscores the increasing restrictions on freedom of expression and press freedom in Hong Kong under Beijing’s rule. China currently holds the distinction of being the world’s worst jailer of journalists, with at least 51 currently imprisoned, including eight in Hong Kong.