Jimmy Lai Found Guilty of National Security Offences in Hong Kong Trial Without Jury

On Monday, in a courtroom at the West Kowloon Law Courts Building, three guilty verdicts were read out against Jimmy Lai, the 78-year-old British media tycoon and pro-democracy campaigner. Sky News described him as looking drawn and thin. When the hearing ended and he was escorted out, Lai waved goodbye to his family, including his wife Teresa and one of his sons.

The court found him guilty on two counts of conspiracy to commit collusion with foreign forces to endanger national security, and on a third count of conspiracy to distribute seditious publications. The conviction could send him to prison for the rest of his life. Sentencing is expected early next year.

Judge Esther Toh ruled that Lai made "constant invitations" to the United States to help bring down the Chinese government. She also called him the "mastermind" behind several plots aimed at exposing the People's Republic of China and harming those in Beijing. The court accepted the argument that he used Apple Daily, the now-defunct tabloid he founded, as part of a major effort to lobby foreign governments to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and China. Lai had denied all the charges when he testified in November.

The trial ran for 156 days and was held without a jury. The United States, Britain and the European Union all watched it closely, concerned about its fairness. Lai was arrested in 2020, during a sweeping Chinese crackdown that followed massive anti-government protests in Hong Kong. At the time he was among the city's most powerful and influential figures, a billionaire whose businesses included Giordano and Next Digital as well as Apple Daily. Together they gave him a net worth of more than $1bn (£766m).

His lawyer, Robert Pang, spoke after the verdict and said Lai's "spirit is okay." He added that the judgment is so long that the defence will need time to study it. Pang did not say whether a formal appeal would be lodged before sentencing.

Lai's family has been open about their fears for his health. His son Sebastien told the BBC earlier this year that his father's body is breaking down. "Given his age, given his health… he will die in prison," he said.

The reaction in the UK was sharp. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned what she called a "politically motivated prosecution" and said Lai had been targeted by the Chinese and Hong Kong governments for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression. She said the National Security Law was imposed to silence China's critics, that the UK has repeatedly called for its repeal and for an end to prosecutions under it, and that Lai should be released immediately. Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel called the conviction "an outrage to democracy, personal freedom and liberty" and urged Sir Keir Starmer to raise the outcome with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Starmer had said at the end of 2024 that securing Lai's release was a priority for his Labour government. Mark Sabah, UK and Europe director of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation, called the trial a "show trial masquerading as justice."

The verdict adds to questions about Hong Kong's judicial system. Its courts have been accused of following Beijing's policies since 2019, when China tightened its control over the city. Officials insist they are simply applying the rules, but critics say the system heavily favours the prosecution. Hundreds of protesters and activists have been jailed under the national security law in recent years, and the BBC reported that, as of May this year, defendants faced a conviction rate of almost 100 per cent. What to watch next: whether Lai's lawyers appeal, and what sentence the court hands down early next year.