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Hong Kong media tycoon found guilty on all charges
Jimmy Lai, the founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily, was convicted Monday of colluding with foreign forces and other national security offenses under a 2020 law imposed by Beijing. The verdict carries a potential life sentence.
From refugee to media mogul
Born in mainland China, Lai fled to Hong Kong as a 12-year-old in 1959, arriving by fishing boat. He began working in a mitten factory before rising through the textile industry and later founding the clothing chain Giordano. His media career took off in 1995 with the launch of Apple Daily, a tabloid known for its bold reporting and pro-democracy stance.
Lai's outspoken criticism of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) intensified after Beijing's 1989 crackdown on Tiananmen Square protesters. He later called China's then-premier Li Peng a "son of a turtle egg" in a 1994 open letter, sparking backlash that forced him to divest from Giordano.
Pro-democracy activism and legal battles
Lai became a prominent figure in Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, supporting the 2014 Umbrella Movement and the 2019 anti-extradition protests. He was jailed for 20 months in 2020 for participating in unauthorized assemblies before facing more severe charges under the national security law.
The court ruled that Lai harbored "a rabid hatred" of the CCP and sought to overthrow its leadership. His defense argued he merely advocated for Hong Kong's core values: "rule of law, freedom, and democracy."
Key moments in the trial
- Prosecution witnesses, including former Apple Daily executives, testified that Lai instructed the paper to "urge people to take to the streets."
- The newspaper was raided twice in 2021 before being forced to shut down.
- Lai's 2019 meeting with then-U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and a campaign urging readers to petition Donald Trump were cited as evidence of foreign collusion.
Life behind bars
Lai, 76, has spent years in solitary confinement at Stanley Prison. Former activists Raphael Wong and Figo Chan, who visited him in 2022, described his weight loss and deepened Catholic faith. Lai now prays for six hours daily and sends drawings of Christ to friends, Wong said.
"Even though he was suffering, he didn't complain nor was he afraid. He was at peace."
Raphael Wong, activist
Hong Kong's shifting landscape
Hong Kong's government praised the verdict, with Chief Executive John Lee accusing Lai of using Apple Daily to "glorify violence" and "create social conflicts." Critics, however, argue the national security law has stifled dissent and eroded the city's freedoms.
Lee Wing Tat, a former lawmaker now in the UK, said he feels guilt over leaving while friends like Lai remain imprisoned. Lai's family, including his daughter-in-law Carmen Tsang, has repeatedly called for his release, citing health concerns.
What's next
Sentencing is pending, with the most serious charge-colluding with foreign forces-carrying a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Lai's legal team has stated his medical needs are being met in prison, though his family disputes this.
