Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, 78, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Monday, February 9, 2026, under the city’s national security law, marking the longest sentence handed down under the legislation since its imposition by Beijing in 2020. The sentence, delivered by a Hong Kong court, effectively condemns the pro-democracy advocate to likely spend the remainder of his life incarcerated.
Lai, the founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, 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 offenses. Six former senior staff members of Apple Daily also received lengthy prison terms, ranging from six years and three months to ten years, after pleading guilty to similar charges in 2022 in exchange for leniency on another count.
Those sentenced alongside Lai included Ryan Law, former editor-in-chief, and Lam Man-chung and Fung Wai-kong, both former executive editors-in-chief, each receiving ten-year sentences. Cheung Kim-hung, the former CEO, was sentenced to six years and nine months, while Chan Pui-man, an associate publisher, received seven years, and Yeung Ching-kee, a lead editorial writer, was sentenced to seven years and three months.
The sentencing has drawn sharp condemnation from international observers, including the United Kingdom, Europe, and the United States. UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper labeled the prosecution as “politically motivated” and stated that Britain would “rapidly engage” with Beijing over the matter. Amnesty International has described the decision as a “grim milestone” for Hong Kong.
Lai, a British citizen, founded Apple Daily in 1995, transforming it into one of Hong Kong’s most popular Chinese-language newspapers, with a daily circulation of 86,000 at its peak. The paper became known for its critical coverage of the Hong Kong and Beijing governments and its support for the pro-democracy movement. Authorities raided Apple Daily’s offices and froze its assets in June 2021, leading to the newspaper’s closure after 26 years of publication.
Prior to his arrest in December 2020, Lai was a vocal critic of Beijing’s increasing control over Hong Kong. He and Apple Daily were frequent targets of pro-government criticism. From his jail cell in April 2021, Lai wrote that “a journalist’s responsibility [is] to uphold justice,” adding, “The era is falling apart before us, and it is time for us to stand tall.”
Lai’s health has been a concern throughout his detention, with reports indicating he suffers from hypertension, diabetes, and cataracts. He has also spent significant periods in solitary confinement with limited access to daylight. His son, Sebastien Lai, described the sentence as a “death sentence” and stated that his father would be seen as a “martyr” by supporters.
The case has raised serious concerns about the erosion of press freedom in Hong Kong. In 2021, Lai and the staff of Apple Daily were awarded the WAN-IFRA Golden Pen of Freedom, recognizing their commitment to independent journalism in the face of growing restrictions. WAN-IFRA continues to call for the release of Lai and his colleagues. According to WAN-IFRA, China is currently the world’s worst jailer of journalists, with at least 51 currently imprisoned, including eight in Hong Kong.
As of February 23, 2026, Lai’s legal team has not commented on whether an appeal will be filed. The Hong Kong government maintains that the case is not related to press freedom, asserting that the defendants used journalism as a cover for activities that harmed China and Hong Kong.
