Jimmy Lai — the jailed Hong Kong media founder and prominent pro-democracy figure — has been found guilty under Hong Kong’s national security and sedition laws, in a verdict that could ultimately expose him to a possible life sentence.
The judgment, delivered on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, was one of the most closely watched national security rulings since Hong Kong’s 1997 handover. The case was heard in the Court of First Instance of the High Court, sitting at the West Kowloon Law Courts Building.
What the court decided
Lai faced one count of conspiracy to publish seditious publications and two counts of conspiracy to collude with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security — charges tied to Hong Kong’s National Security Law (NSL) and a revived colonial-era sedition provision.
Prosecutors argued Lai used his now-shuttered outlet, Apple Daily, alongside international political contacts, to push for foreign pressure — including sanctions — against Chinese and Hong Kong authorities. Lai pleaded not guilty.
The court’s written reasons for the verdict ran to 855 pages. Three Apple Daily-linked companies — Apple Daily Limited, Apple Daily Printing Limited, and AD Internet Limited — were also convicted in the case.
What happens next
The next court date is Jan. 12, 2026, when the proceedings move forward on sentencing matters. Lai also has the option to appeal.
Lai has been in custody since December 2020. Separate from this national security case, he has already been convicted in other matters, including a fraud case that resulted in a 5 years 9 months prison sentence.
International reaction ramps up
Rights and press freedom groups condemned the verdict, calling it a major blow to media freedom in Hong Kong.
The UK government reiterated its position that the prosecution is politically motivated and called for Lai’s release. (Lai holds British citizenship.) The ruling also lands amid reports of an expected UK prime minister Keir Starmer visit to China in the coming weeks, adding diplomatic pressure to an already contentious issue.
Why this case matters beyond one man
Hong Kong’s NSL cases are overseen by designated judges selected for national security proceedings. Critics argue that, combined with tightened bail and security-related legal changes since 2020, the framework has remade how politically sensitive prosecutions play out in the city.
The verdict also arrives against a backdrop of broader concerns about state-linked interference and national security enforcement. In April 2025, France publicly attributed a multi-year hacking campaign against French targets to APT28, a Russia-linked group — an example often cited by governments to justify stricter national security postures. Hong Kong officials, for their part, have repeatedly argued the NSL is necessary to restore stability.