Hong Kong sentences pro-democracy mogul Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison
Former Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, a steadfast critic of Beijing, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Monday in the longest punishment given so far under a China-imposed national security law that has virtually silenced the city’s dissent. The European Union said it "deplored" the ruling, calling for Lai's "immediate and unconditional release".
09/02/2026 -
By: FRANCE 24
Video by: FRANCE 24
A Hong Kong court sentenced pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison on Monday for national security crimes, a punishment rights groups condemned as "effectively a death sentence" and a symbol of the city's shrivelling press freedoms.
Lai, a British citizen and founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, was found guilty in December of urging foreign countries to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and for publishing "seditious" articles in his paper.
The 78-year-old's sentence is by far the harshest handed out under the Beijing-imposed national security law, surpassing the previous record of 10 years given to legal scholar Benny Tai in 2024.
A summary document from the judges said they had settled on 20 years' imprisonment "after considering the serious and grave criminal conduct of Lai".
Two of those years will overlap with Lai's existing prison term, meaning that he will serve an additional 18 years, the judges wrote.
Lai, who has been behind bars since 2020, sat impassively in the dock as his sentence was read out, an AFP journalist in the court saw.
As he was led away, he waved solemnly to people in the public gallery, including his wife Teresa, former Hong Kong bishop Cardinal Joseph Zen, and former Apple Daily reporters.
His defence lawyer Robert Pang declined to comment on whether Lai would lodge an appeal, which can be done in the next 28 days.
Asked if the sentence was in line with expectations, Pang told AFP: "In these times, I don't know what to expect."
Teresa Lai was grim-faced during the hearing and made no comment as she left the court, but their children, who live abroad, condemned the sentence in a statement.
"Sentencing my father to this draconian prison sentence is devastating for our family and life-threatening for my father," Lai's son Sebastien said.
The mogul's daughter Claire called it "a heartbreakingly cruel sentence" given his declining health in prison, and if carried out, "he will die a martyr behind bars".
'Effectively a death sentence'
Rights groups also said Lai's punishment amounted to a grave injustice.
"The harsh 20-year sentence against 78-year-old Jimmy Lai is effectively a death sentence. A sentence of this magnitude is both cruel and profoundly unjust," Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement.
Amnesty International called the case "another grim milestone in Hong Kong's transformation from a city governed by the rule of law to one ruled by fear".
Jodie Ginsberg, the CEO of the Committee to Protect Journalists, said "today's egregious decision is the final nail in the coffin for freedom of the press in Hong Kong".
Former Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, a steadfast critic of Beijing, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Monday in the longest punishment given so far under a China-imposed national security law that has virtually silenced the city’s dissent. The European Union said it "deplored" the ruling, calling for Lai's "immediate and unconditional release".
09/02/2026 -
By: FRANCE 24
Video by: FRANCE 24
Beijing critic and pro-democracy mogul Jimmy Lai pictured in Hong Kong in June 2020. © Anthony Wallace, AFP file photo
01:37
01:37
A Hong Kong court sentenced pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison on Monday for national security crimes, a punishment rights groups condemned as "effectively a death sentence" and a symbol of the city's shrivelling press freedoms.
Lai, a British citizen and founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, was found guilty in December of urging foreign countries to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and for publishing "seditious" articles in his paper.
The 78-year-old's sentence is by far the harshest handed out under the Beijing-imposed national security law, surpassing the previous record of 10 years given to legal scholar Benny Tai in 2024.
A summary document from the judges said they had settled on 20 years' imprisonment "after considering the serious and grave criminal conduct of Lai".
Two of those years will overlap with Lai's existing prison term, meaning that he will serve an additional 18 years, the judges wrote.
Lai, who has been behind bars since 2020, sat impassively in the dock as his sentence was read out, an AFP journalist in the court saw.
As he was led away, he waved solemnly to people in the public gallery, including his wife Teresa, former Hong Kong bishop Cardinal Joseph Zen, and former Apple Daily reporters.
His defence lawyer Robert Pang declined to comment on whether Lai would lodge an appeal, which can be done in the next 28 days.
Asked if the sentence was in line with expectations, Pang told AFP: "In these times, I don't know what to expect."
Teresa Lai was grim-faced during the hearing and made no comment as she left the court, but their children, who live abroad, condemned the sentence in a statement.
"Sentencing my father to this draconian prison sentence is devastating for our family and life-threatening for my father," Lai's son Sebastien said.
The mogul's daughter Claire called it "a heartbreakingly cruel sentence" given his declining health in prison, and if carried out, "he will die a martyr behind bars".
'Effectively a death sentence'
Rights groups also said Lai's punishment amounted to a grave injustice.
"The harsh 20-year sentence against 78-year-old Jimmy Lai is effectively a death sentence. A sentence of this magnitude is both cruel and profoundly unjust," Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement.
Amnesty International called the case "another grim milestone in Hong Kong's transformation from a city governed by the rule of law to one ruled by fear".
Jodie Ginsberg, the CEO of the Committee to Protect Journalists, said "today's egregious decision is the final nail in the coffin for freedom of the press in Hong Kong".
Retired bishop Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun and Teresa Lai, wife of Jimmy Lai, arrive at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts building in Hong Kong for sentencing on February 9, 2026. © Tyrone Siu, Reuters
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer previously said he had raised the issue of Lai during his meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing last month, while US President Donald Trump has also called for his release.
Following Lai's sentencing, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper called on Hong Kong to "end his appalling ordeal" and pledged to "rapidly engage further" with Beijing.
Taiwan said Lai's sentencing created a "chilling effect" across borders and "tramples on freedom of speech".
Beijing again dismissed critics on Monday as smearing Hong Kong's judicial system, calling the sentence "reasonable, legitimate and legal".
Hong Kong's chief executive John Lee lauded the lengthy prison term as "deeply gratifying".
Staunch supporters
Dozens of former Apple Daily employees and others braved the cold to queue overnight outside the West Kowloon court for a spot in court, while journalists gathered outside the building's entrance.
The mood was tense as police deployed dozens of officers, an armoured car and a bomb disposal van to the area.
"I think this is equivalent to sentencing Lai to life imprisonment," Lam Ying-kit, a former history teacher in his 50s, told AFP.
Lai's supporters, children, lawyers and rights groups have all raised concerns about his deteriorating health in prison.
Lai was kept in solitary confinement at his own request to avoid harassment, according to prosecutors, while authorities maintain he receives "adequate" care.
Long a thorn in Beijing's side, Lai was prosecuted under the national security law imposed by China on Hong Kong in 2020 following huge pro-democracy protests.
Apple Daily was forced to close in 2021 after police raids.
Eight other defendants, including six Apple Daily executives, were handed sentences of up to 10 years in jail. All had pleaded guilty.
Hong Kong had arrested a total of 386 people for various national security crimes by the start of this month, with 176 of them being convicted.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer previously said he had raised the issue of Lai during his meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing last month, while US President Donald Trump has also called for his release.
Following Lai's sentencing, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper called on Hong Kong to "end his appalling ordeal" and pledged to "rapidly engage further" with Beijing.
Taiwan said Lai's sentencing created a "chilling effect" across borders and "tramples on freedom of speech".
Beijing again dismissed critics on Monday as smearing Hong Kong's judicial system, calling the sentence "reasonable, legitimate and legal".
Hong Kong's chief executive John Lee lauded the lengthy prison term as "deeply gratifying".
Staunch supporters
Dozens of former Apple Daily employees and others braved the cold to queue overnight outside the West Kowloon court for a spot in court, while journalists gathered outside the building's entrance.
The mood was tense as police deployed dozens of officers, an armoured car and a bomb disposal van to the area.
"I think this is equivalent to sentencing Lai to life imprisonment," Lam Ying-kit, a former history teacher in his 50s, told AFP.
Lai's supporters, children, lawyers and rights groups have all raised concerns about his deteriorating health in prison.
Lai was kept in solitary confinement at his own request to avoid harassment, according to prosecutors, while authorities maintain he receives "adequate" care.
Long a thorn in Beijing's side, Lai was prosecuted under the national security law imposed by China on Hong Kong in 2020 following huge pro-democracy protests.
Apple Daily was forced to close in 2021 after police raids.
Eight other defendants, including six Apple Daily executives, were handed sentences of up to 10 years in jail. All had pleaded guilty.
Hong Kong had arrested a total of 386 people for various national security crimes by the start of this month, with 176 of them being convicted.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Hong Kong's most prominent China critic, media tycoon Jimmy Lai, was sentenced on Monday to 20 years in jail under the city's controversial national security law, in what rights groups condemned as "effectively a death sentence" and a symbol of the city's shrivelling press freedoms.
Issued on: 09/02/2026
By: FRANCE 24
Merchandise in support of Jimmy Lai is displayed before a news conference in Washington on December 15, 2025. © Julia Demaree Nikhinson, AP
Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai was sentenced on Monday to 20 years in prison for foreign collusion and sedition, the harshest penalty yet under a Beijing-imposed national security law.
The 78-year-old founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper has been behind bars since 2020.
Here are some key reactions:
Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai was sentenced on Monday to 20 years in prison for foreign collusion and sedition, the harshest penalty yet under a Beijing-imposed national security law.
The 78-year-old founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper has been behind bars since 2020.
Here are some key reactions:
Lai's children: 'Cruel'
Jimmy Lai's son Sebastien said in a statement: "Sentencing my father to this draconian prison sentence is devastating for our family and life-threatening for my father."
His daughter Claire added: "This is a heartbreakingly cruel sentence. Over the last five years, I have watched my father's health deteriorate dramatically and the conditions he's kept in go from bad to worse. If this sentence is carried out, he will die a martyr behind bars."
Hong Kong leader: 'Deeply gratifying'
Hong Kong leader John Lee said Lai's crimes were "heinous and evil in the extreme".
"(Lai's) heavy sentence of 20 years' imprisonment demonstrates the rule of law, upholds justice and is deeply gratifying," Lee said in a statement.
Beijing: 'No room for argument'
Lin Jian, spokesperson of China's foreign ministry, said Lai was a Chinese citizen and was "a key planner and participant in a series of anti-China and disruptive activities in Hong Kong".
"This is reasonable, legitimate, and legal; there is no room for argument," Lin said at a press briefing.
UK: 'Rapidly engage further'
Britain's Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper said Lai's penalty was "tantamount to a life sentence" and reiterated calls for the tycoon's release on humanitarian grounds.
"Following today's sentencing we will rapidly engage further on Mr Lai's case. We stand with the people of Hong Kong," Cooper added.
Britain's Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper said Lai's penalty was "tantamount to a life sentence" and reiterated calls for the tycoon's release on humanitarian grounds.
"Following today's sentencing we will rapidly engage further on Mr Lai's case. We stand with the people of Hong Kong," Cooper added.
EU: 'Deplores'
The European Union said it "deplores" Lai's sentencing and called for his "immediate and unconditional release".
"The EU calls on the Hong Kong authorities to restore confidence in press freedom in Hong Kong... and to stop prosecuting journalists," EU foreign affairs spokesperson Anitta Hipper said.
Australia: 'Cease suppression of freedoms'
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong urged China to "cease suppression of freedoms" and repeal Hong Kong's national security law.
"The Australian Government is gravely concerned by the sentences handed down to Jimmy Lai and his co-defendants in Hong Kong today.
"We continue to call on China to cease suppression of freedoms of expression, assembly, media and civil society, consistent with UN Human Rights Committee recommendations, and to call for the repeal of the national security law in Hong Kong."
Taiwan: 'Chilling effect'
Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said in a statement that China and Hong Kong "have brought media influence and international connections within the scope of national security measures, aiming to create a chilling effect across sectors and borders".
Reporters Without Borders: 'Collapse of press freedom'
Thibaut Bruttin, director general of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), said Lai's case was "nothing more than a sham".
"Today, the curtain falls on press freedom in Hong Kong. We are outraged by the harsh sentences handed down to Jimmy Lai," Bruttin said in a statement.
"Democracies, such as the UK and the US, must stop prioritising the normalisation of relations with China and instead exert pressure on the Chinese regime and Hong Kong authorities to ensure that Jimmy Lai and all other journalists are released from prison," he added.
Human Rights Watch: 'Effectively a death sentence'
Lai's 20-year jail term is tantamount to a death sentence, said Elaine Pearson, Asia Director at Human Rights Watch (HRW).
"The harsh 20-year sentence against 78-year-old Jimmy Lai is effectively a death sentence. A sentence of this magnitude is both cruel and profoundly unjust.
"Lai’s years of persecution show the Chinese government’s determination to crush independent journalism and silence anyone who dares to criticise the Communist Party."
HRW's Elaine Pearson reacted to Jimmy Lai's prison sentence in a post on X. © X
Legal scholar: 'On the high side'
Simon Young, a law professor at the University of Hong Kong, said the parts of Lai's sentencing related to foreign collusion "appear to be on the high side".
"I think the Court is wrong to say that (pre-national security law) conduct can be considered in assessing the gravity of the offences," Young told AFP.
Lai's legal team should consider an appeal of sentence, he added.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and Reuters)
Legal scholar: 'On the high side'
Simon Young, a law professor at the University of Hong Kong, said the parts of Lai's sentencing related to foreign collusion "appear to be on the high side".
"I think the Court is wrong to say that (pre-national security law) conduct can be considered in assessing the gravity of the offences," Young told AFP.
Lai's legal team should consider an appeal of sentence, he added.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and Reuters)
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