https://www.scmp.com/rss/517462/feed Hong Kong media tycoon and founder of tabloid Apple Daily Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s trial began on December 18, 2023. He is being prosecuted under the national security law and a colonial-era sedition legislation. Lai faces three conspiracy charges relating to sedition and collusion with foreign forces. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong authorities have condemned attempts by anti-China forces and foreign media to sugarcoat the criminal acts of jailed former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, while defending the city’s press freedom after the release of a global index. The government issued a strongly worded statement in the early hours of Friday, slamming the attempts to slander, smear and attack the city “by releasing a so-called press freedom index”, saying that “such despicable behaviours totally disregarded the rule... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3352096/hong-kong-slams-attempts-sugarcoat-jimmy-lais-criminal-acts-press-freedom-index?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3352096/hong-kong-slams-attempts-sugarcoat-jimmy-lais-criminal-acts-press-freedom-index?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 02:55:09 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong The Hong Kong government is seeking to confiscate HK$56.5 million (US$7.2 million) from former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s bank accounts and all of the shares in his 17 companies after he was jailed for 20 years under the national security law, court documents show. The secretary for justice applied to the High Court earlier this month to seize Lai’s assets linked to three conspiracies to instigate foreign sanctions and incite public hatred towards the authorities in 2019 and 2020. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350893/hong-kong-seeks-seize-hk565-million-17-companies-jailed-jimmy-lai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350893/hong-kong-seeks-seize-hk565-million-17-companies-jailed-jimmy-lai?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:35:16 +0000 Fiona Chow Fiona Chow Hong Kong authorities are proceeding with legal action to confiscate property linked to crimes committed by former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, with a hearing on the matter set to be held in three months. According to a court document seen by the South China Morning Post on Wednesday, the secretary for justice filed an application with the Court of First Instance to confiscate Lai’s property after he was sentenced to 20 years in jail for national security offences. A 60-minute hearing is... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349371/court-hearing-set-july-confiscating-jimmy-lais-properties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349371/court-hearing-set-july-confiscating-jimmy-lais-properties?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:24:42 +0000 Bernard Chan Bernard Chan The sentencing of Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has been cited by several Western officials and media outlets as further evidence that Hong Kong’s legal system is in decline. Lai, the founder of the now-closed Apple Daily newspaper, faced multiple charges, including two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of conspiracy to publish seditious publications. He was convicted last December and sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment in February. That same month, however, the Court of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348705/dont-let-geopolitical-rivalry-skew-debate-over-jimmy-lais-sentencing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348705/dont-let-geopolitical-rivalry-skew-debate-over-jimmy-lais-sentencing?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan Beijing on Friday warned Washington against making moves involving Hong Kong or Taiwan ahead of the expected visit by US President Donald Trump later this month. It condemned US calls for the release of jailed former Hong Kong media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and reiterated opposition to American arms sales to Taiwan. Speaking at a regular press briefing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Lai “should be severely punished according to the law”, and accused external forces of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346526/beijing-warns-us-over-jimmy-lai-hong-kong-and-taiwan-arms-sales-ahead-trump-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346526/beijing-warns-us-over-jimmy-lai-hong-kong-and-taiwan-arms-sales-ahead-trump-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 11:30:43 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong The former executive editor-in-chief of Hong Kong’s defunct Apple Daily newspaper, founded by Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, has lodged an appeal against his 10-year sentence imposed under the national security law. Lam Man-chung’s lawyer filed the application at the Court of Appeal on Friday, ahead of the statutory 28-day deadline for criminal appeals expiring on Monday. The 56-year-old is the second defendant to seek a reduced sentence after Fung Wai-kong, 62, managing editor of Apple Daily’s English... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3345937/former-apple-daily-executive-editor-appeals-10-year-sentence-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3345937/former-apple-daily-executive-editor-appeals-10-year-sentence-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 05:51:51 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong Former Hong Kong media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has decided not to appeal against his conviction and 20-year jail sentence imposed in a landmark national security trial, the South China Morning Post has learned. A member of Lai’s Hong Kong legal team, who asked not to be named, confirmed to the SCMP on Friday that Lai would not file an application to the Court of Appeal before the usual 28-day deadline for lodging an appeal in criminal proceedings expires on Monday. “We can confirm we have clear... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3345656/jimmy-lai-opts-against-appeal-20-year-sentence-after-national-security-trial?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3345656/jimmy-lai-opts-against-appeal-20-year-sentence-after-national-security-trial?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 03:41:29 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma A former Apple Daily senior executive jailed for national security offences in Hong Kong has lodged an appeal against his 10-year term, the first in a landmark trial that saw the founder of the now-defunct tabloid-style newspaper sentenced to 20 years in prison. Court documents reviewed by the South China Morning Post on Tuesday showed that Fung Wai-kong, former managing editor of Apple Daily’s English edition, had filed his appeal with the city’s High Court on Monday. Fung was sentenced to 10... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3345277/ex-apple-daily-executive-first-appeal-sentence-landmark-hong-kong-trial?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3345277/ex-apple-daily-executive-first-appeal-sentence-landmark-hong-kong-trial?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 09:42:45 +0000 Grenville Cross Grenville Cross After being sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for national security offences on February 9, Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying will decide if he wishes to appeal. He may challenge his convictions and/or sentences and has about two weeks to make up his mind. Given the length of his trial (156 days), the mountain of evidence and the legal issues, it will take time for any appeal to be resolved. Meanwhile, foreign actors have turned their attention to securing Lai’s early release. The lead... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3344253/speedy-pardon-jimmy-lai-case-unlikely?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3344253/speedy-pardon-jimmy-lai-case-unlikely?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words The sentencing of Jimmy Lai Chee-ying to 20 years in prison marks a pivotal moment in Hong Kong’s journey towards restoring the rule of law and social stability. This landmark ruling, followed by the State Council’s release of a white paper on safeguarding national security in... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3344096/jimmy-lai-case-verdict-and-state-councils-white-paper-send-strong-message?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3344096/jimmy-lai-case-verdict-and-state-councils-white-paper-send-strong-message?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 03:30:07 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words Hong Kong’s High Court has sentenced Jimmy Lai Chee-ying to 20 years in prison for violating the national security law, following his conviction in December last year for conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and conspiracy to publish seditious materials. Some mainstream... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3343997/orderly-hong-kong-can-remain-open-and-outward-looking?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3343997/orderly-hong-kong-can-remain-open-and-outward-looking?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 03:30:08 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun The Chinese foreign ministry’s arm in Hong Kong has lodged “solemn representations” with local envoys for Britain, the US, Australia and the EU over remarks made by their officials and politicians about the sentencing of former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying. The Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong issued a statement on Saturday, saying it had summoned representatives from the countries and the bloc on Wednesday and Thursday. “The commissioner’s office lodged solemn... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3343589/beijing-slams-us-uk-australia-and-eu-over-jimmy-lai-sentencing-remarks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3343589/beijing-slams-us-uk-australia-and-eu-over-jimmy-lai-sentencing-remarks?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Feb 2026 12:01:26 +0000 Alex Lo Alex Lo There is this old British chestnut that says justice must not only be done, but must be seen to be done. Justice has been amply served in the 20-year sentence handed down to former media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, but it has not been seen to be done in many quarters, especially in the West. There is the reality of justice and the appearance of it, and the two don’t always or even usually coincide. There are two main reasons behind the widespread Western criticism of Lai’s case. One is that... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3343269/western-media-criticism-jimmy-lai-case-verdict-needs-fact-check?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3343269/western-media-criticism-jimmy-lai-case-verdict-needs-fact-check?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Feb 2026 01:30:10 +0000 Cui Jianchun Cui Jianchun On February 9, the rule of law and justice scored another victory in Hong Kong when a local court sentenced Jimmy Lai Chee-ying to 20 years in prison for violating the national security law. This sends a clear and resounding message to the world that Hong Kong is a society rigorously governed by law, and any lawbreakers will be brought to justice. Lai reaped what he sowed. The evidence of his crimes is irrefutable. He relentlessly pushed for so-called international lobbying, went to great... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3343025/jimmy-lai-ruling-shows-hong-kongs-resolve-uphold-rule-law?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3343025/jimmy-lai-ruling-shows-hong-kongs-resolve-uphold-rule-law?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 23:30:08 +0000 Ronny Tong Ronny Tong After 156 days of hearings, Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s case finally came to a close with the former media boss sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment. Western media and critics will no doubt say, what a harsh sentence for a “democracy advocate” and “freedom fighter”. However, Lai was not accused of fighting for freedom or demanding democracy in Hong Kong. His crimes were not even about his avowed hatred of the Communist Party. Western critics may be surprised to hear that hating the Communist Party is... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3343014/collusion-serious-offence-let-jimmy-lais-case-be-example?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3343014/collusion-serious-offence-let-jimmy-lais-case-be-example?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 12:30:08 +0000 Victor Sanjinez,Carlos Araujo Victor Sanjinez,Carlos Araujo Key dates in Jimmy Lai’s Hong Kong national security case https://www.scmp.com/infographics/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3342935/key-dates-jimmy-lais-hong-kong-national-security-case?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/infographics/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3342935/key-dates-jimmy-lais-hong-kong-national-security-case?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 09:00:08 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen The Chinese embassy in Britain has slammed London’s “malicious” plan to expand an immigration pathway for Hongkongers after the sentencing of former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying to 20 years in prison, accusing the UK of “manipulating” the issue. A spokesman for the Chinese embassy on Tuesday urged the UK government to stop interfering in China’s domestic affairs after it expanded the British National (Overseas) visa scheme in response to Lai’s sentencing. “The UK’s previous actions of this... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3343026/chinese-embassy-uk-slams-bno-expansion-manipulating-jimmy-lai-case?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3343026/chinese-embassy-uk-slams-bno-expansion-manipulating-jimmy-lai-case?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 06:33:14 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The jailing of former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying brings to an end one of the longest and most widely scrutinised criminal trials in the city’s history. Lai was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for conspiring to collude with foreign forces and publishing seditious articles. The sentence reflects the gravity of his crimes. He is the most prominent opposition figure to be convicted under the national security law passed by Beijing in 2020. Six former executives of Lai’s now-closed Apple... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3342955/jimmy-lai-trial-shows-hong-kongs-rule-law-remains-robust?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3342955/jimmy-lai-trial-shows-hong-kongs-rule-law-remains-robust?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 23:15:15 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong Hong Kong’s High Court jailed former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying for 20 years on Monday for national security crimes, in what mainland Chinese authorities described as a “powerful declaration” that severe punishment awaited those who dared to challenge the law. In the toughest punishment to date under the city’s national security law, Lai is set to spend the rest of his life behind bars after being found guilty earlier on two conspiracy counts of collusion with foreign forces and a third of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3342970/ex-media-boss-jimmy-lai-jailed-20-years-under-national-security-law?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3342970/ex-media-boss-jimmy-lai-jailed-20-years-under-national-security-law?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 15:36:34 +0000 Ng Kang-chung,Connor Mycroft Ng Kang-chung,Connor Mycroft Hongkongers who were minors at the time of the 1997 handover to China will be eligible to apply for the British National (Overseas) pathway to UK citizenship independently of their parents, with 26,000 arrivals expected under the expanded scheme in the next five years. The move was a response to the 20-year prison sentence handed to former Hong Kong media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying for convictions of national security-related charges in the city on Monday morning. In a statement on Monday, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3342966/uk-expands-bno-scheme-more-hongkongers-following-jimmy-lai-sentencing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3342966/uk-expands-bno-scheme-more-hongkongers-following-jimmy-lai-sentencing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 14:26:15 +0000 SCMP Reporters SCMP Reporters A Hong Kong court sentenced former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying to 20 years in prison on Monday for violating the national security law, closing a chapter on what has become a geopolitical flashpoint between China and the West. In a hearing that lasted less than 10 minutes at West Kowloon Court, three High Court judges handed down penalties to Lai, six senior executives of his Apple Daily tabloid-style newspaper, three companies associated with the now-defunct outlet and two activists. Lai,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3342862/hong-kongs-jimmy-lai-faces-sentencing-national-security-trial?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3342862/hong-kongs-jimmy-lai-faces-sentencing-national-security-trial?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 01:45:58 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong A Hong Kong court will sentence former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and his associates on Monday for conspiracy to collude with foreign forces in violation of the national security law. Three High Court judges who oversaw Lai’s high-profile trial are expected to hand down penalties on the 78-year-old defendant at 10am, according to the judiciary website. The justices, hand-picked by the city leader to adjudicate national security cases, will also sentence six former senior executives of Lai’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3342589/jimmy-lai-sentencing-set-monday-hong-kong-national-security-trial?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3342589/jimmy-lai-sentencing-set-monday-hong-kong-national-security-trial?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 02:46:41 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The opening of the legal new year provides a rare opportunity for the leaders of the profession to jointly speak out on matters relating to the city’s rule of law. A common theme often emerges in the speeches. In recent times, the prime concern has been to defend judges from unwarranted attacks sparked by their rulings in politically sensitive cases. This year was no exception. The conviction and imminent sentencing of former media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying for national security offences... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3340935/hong-kongs-commitment-rule-law-clear?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3340935/hong-kongs-commitment-rule-law-clear?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 23:15:12 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Beijing and Hong Kong authorities have condemned a resolution strongly backed by the European Parliament to sanction officials and revoke the city’s special trade status to protest against former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s conviction in a national security trial. A spokesman for the foreign ministry’s arm in Hong Kong on Friday expressed “strong condemnation and opposition” while accusing the European Parliament of ignoring facts and distorting the truth. “The European Parliament has... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3340895/eu-parliament-backs-sanctions-against-hong-kong-officials-over-jimmy-lai-trial?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3340895/eu-parliament-backs-sanctions-against-hong-kong-officials-over-jimmy-lai-trial?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jan 2026 14:41:49 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft European lawmakers have renewed their calls for the bloc’s executive arm to revoke Hong Kong’s special trade status, and to sanction the city’s chief executive and officials to protest against the conviction of former media boss Jimmy Lai on national security charges. During the debate in the European Parliament on Thursday, Hong Kong time, some MEPs stressed the importance of the EU taking concrete measures in response to the verdict, following a non-binding motion passed in the wake of an... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3340752/european-mps-debate-actions-punish-hong-kong-after-jimmy-lai-conviction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3340752/european-mps-debate-actions-punish-hong-kong-after-jimmy-lai-conviction?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 23:44:52 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Brian Wong Matthew Cheng,Brian Wong Hong Kong’s rule of law is “more robust and enduring than the outcome of any single case”, the city’s chief justice has declared after former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying was found guilty in a landmark national security case that drew international scrutiny and criticism. In his speech at a ceremony to mark the opening of the legal year on Monday, Chief Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung warned that any calls for the early release of a defendant based on his occupation or political causes were a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3340432/rule-law-hong-kong-more-robust-outcome-any-single-case-chief-justice?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3340432/rule-law-hong-kong-more-robust-outcome-any-single-case-chief-justice?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Jan 2026 09:40:18 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong A former senior executive of the now-defunct Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily regrets not standing firmly by her journalistic principles against the editorial interference of her ex-boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, her lawyer has told a court hearing. Three High Court judges adjourned the sentencing of Lai and eight others until an unspecified date after defence lawyers wrapped up their mitigation arguments at West Kowloon Court on Tuesday. Appeals for leniency were made on behalf of five former senior... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3339727/executive-hong-kongs-apple-daily-regrets-not-standing-ex-boss-jimmy-lai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3339727/executive-hong-kongs-apple-daily-regrets-not-standing-ex-boss-jimmy-lai?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jan 2026 08:13:05 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong Lawyers for a former newspaper publisher and two activists have called for less than 10 years’ imprisonment for their roles in attempts to instigate sanctions against Hong Kong and mainland China, saying they deserve additional reductions in securing Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s conviction in his national security trial. Arguments over appropriate sentences for the former media boss and eight other defendants began on Monday at West Kowloon Court. Aside from Lai, the rest pleaded guilty before his... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3339637/jimmy-lai-trial-hong-kong-lawyers-publisher-activists-seek-reduced-jail-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3339637/jimmy-lai-trial-hong-kong-lawyers-publisher-activists-seek-reduced-jail-time?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 13:22:47 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong Hong Kong judges in Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s national security trial have questioned whether the former media boss is entitled to a reduced sentence on health or custodial grounds, citing records showing he is in a stable condition and had requested solitary confinement of his own free will. The three High Court justices on Monday began hearing arguments on the length of the sentences to be handed down to the Apple Daily founder and eight others. The other defendants pleaded guilty before Lai’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3339630/hong-kong-judges-doubtful-if-jimmy-lais-health-justifies-sentence-reduction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3339630/hong-kong-judges-doubtful-if-jimmy-lais-health-justifies-sentence-reduction?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 12:39:09 +0000 Brian Wong,Connor Mycroft,Jess Ma Brian Wong,Connor Mycroft,Jess Ma Former Hong Kong media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has returned to West Kowloon Court alongside eight co-defendants, as three judges hear mitigation arguments from defence lawyers in his high-profile national security case on Monday. The 78-year-old founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily is the most prominent figure yet to be convicted under the national security law imposed by Beijing in June 2020. Last month, he was found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3339524/jimmy-lai-trial-hong-kong-judges-hear-mitigation-arguments-defence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3339524/jimmy-lai-trial-hong-kong-judges-hear-mitigation-arguments-defence?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 01:32:21 +0000 Jess Ma,Harvey Kong Jess Ma,Harvey Kong A top Hong Kong official has condemned attempts by external forces and “anti-China absconders” to “smear” the government ahead of Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s mitigation hearing, saying the former media boss’ conviction showed that any plots to undermine national security will fail. Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai said on Saturday that such smear campaigns during Lai’s national security trial were proof that Hong Kong still faced risks that could not be taken... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3339452/hong-kong-slams-attempts-smear-government-ahead-jimmy-lai-mitigation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3339452/hong-kong-slams-attempts-smear-government-ahead-jimmy-lai-mitigation?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Jan 2026 12:50:50 +0000 Willa Wu Willa Wu A series of consequential political developments and controversies made 2025 a significant year for Hong Kong. Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing’s company CK Hutchison Holdings was caught in the crossfire of US-China tensions over a deal to sell its Panama Canal ports, which was eventually put on hold under pressure from Beijing. Locally, the city held its second Legislative Council election under Beijing’s “patriots-only” overhaul, with the voter turnout slightly surpassing the previous record... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3338338/jimmy-lai-verdict-and-panama-port-saga-what-shaped-hong-kongs-2025-political-scene?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3338338/jimmy-lai-verdict-and-panama-port-saga-what-shaped-hong-kongs-2025-political-scene?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Dec 2025 13:33:59 +0000 Cui Jianchun Cui Jianchun On December 15, Jimmy Lai Chee-ying was found guilty on two charges of conspiring to collude with external forces and a charge of conspiracy to publish seditious materials by the High Court of Hong Kong. The verdict was welcomed in the city and, as expected, prompted another round of outcries from some Western countries. As Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, I feel obliged to set the record straight... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3336892/west-must-face-facts-jimmy-lais-trial-and-conviction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3336892/west-must-face-facts-jimmy-lais-trial-and-conviction?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Dec 2025 01:30:09 +0000 Willa Wu Willa Wu Beijing and Hong Kong have slammed the G7 for “trampling the city’s rule of law” after the group criticised the guilty verdict handed down at former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s national security trial and demanded his immediate release. The strongly worded statements on Thursday were in response to a joint call from the foreign ministers of the G7 and the European Union’s high representative, who condemned Lai’s prosecution while expressing ongoing concerns about “deteriorating rights,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3336950/beijing-hong-kong-slam-g7-over-criticism-jimmy-lai-trial-verdict?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3336950/beijing-hong-kong-slam-g7-over-criticism-jimmy-lai-trial-verdict?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 11:42:49 +0000 Shi Jiangtao Shi Jiangtao The conviction of former media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying in a high-profile Hong Kong trial has drawn sharp reactions in London, casting uncertainty over thawing Sino-British ties before Keir Starmer visits China. Although the outcome of Lai’s 156-day national security trial was widely expected, observers say it poses a significant test for the Labour government’s balancing act on China, which could narrow the space for engagement even if its immediate impact on bilateral relations is... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3336815/how-will-jimmy-lais-conviction-affect-china-uk-ties-and-keir-starmers-planned-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3336815/how-will-jimmy-lais-conviction-affect-china-uk-ties-and-keir-starmers-planned-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 14:00:25 +0000 Willa Wu Willa Wu An open court and a detailed ruling in former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s closely watched national security trial have demonstrated the strength of Hong Kong’s rule of law, legal experts have said. Lawyers, including the Hong Kong Bar Association, on Tuesday urged members of the public to respect the city’s judicial process and study the High Court’s judgment carefully before drawing conclusions after several Western countries criticised Lai’s guilty verdict, prompting a strong rebuke from... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3336679/open-court-detailed-ruling-jimmy-lai-trial-prove-hong-kong-rule-law-strong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3336679/open-court-detailed-ruling-jimmy-lai-trial-prove-hong-kong-rule-law-strong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:30:08 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok The Chinese foreign ministry’s arm in Hong Kong has issued a rare open letter explaining the “facts and truths” behind former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s guilty verdict, urging international media outlets to uphold objectivity and present an accurate picture to the world. The Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong on Tuesday also sent letters to The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, condemning their editorials on the verdict as “wilful distortion” and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3336563/dont-be-misled-lies-beijing-tells-foreign-media-hong-kong-after-lai-verdict?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3336563/dont-be-misled-lies-beijing-tells-foreign-media-hong-kong-after-lai-verdict?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Dec 2025 02:54:46 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong A political row over former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has intensified after his guilty verdict, with the Hong Kong government condemning what it called “despicable political manipulations” and the United States seeking his release. Beijing’s top office overseeing city affairs also published a strongly worded commentary on Tuesday, criticising Lai for using “two systems” to oppose “one country” and branding him a “national criminal who will forever be nailed to the pillar of historical... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3336559/despicable-hong-kong-slams-western-smears-us-calls-jimmy-lais-release?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3336559/despicable-hong-kong-slams-western-smears-us-calls-jimmy-lais-release?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Dec 2025 01:58:53 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft The court’s verdict in former Hong Kong media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s trial has shed light on the ways in which implicit acts and actions taken before the national security law came into effect may constitute criminal offences, legal experts have said. Lai, 78, was found guilty on all three charges he faced under the Beijing-imposed national security law on Monday, marking the first time a court had ruled on the offence of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces. The landmark verdict was... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3336542/hong-kong-courts-verdict-jimmy-lai-trial-sheds-light-law-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3336542/hong-kong-courts-verdict-jimmy-lai-trial-sheds-light-law-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:30:17 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Britain’s government on Monday summoned China’s ambassador to the UK to protest the conviction of British citizen Jimmy Lai Chee-ying on national security charges in Hong Kong, while US President Donald Trump said he urged leniency for Lai in a call with Chinese President Xi Jinping. “I feel so badly. I spoke to President Xi about it, and I asked to consider his release,” Trump told reporters, without specifying exactly when he spoke with Xi. “He is an older man, and he is not well. So I did put... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3336555/trump-urges-xi-show-leniency-jimmy-lai-britain-summons-chinas-ambassador?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3336555/trump-urges-xi-show-leniency-jimmy-lai-britain-summons-chinas-ambassador?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Dec 2025 23:43:55 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong has had its share of internationally high-profile court cases. Few, if any, have attracted the sustained high-level scrutiny at home and abroad of the national security case of Jimmy Lai Chee-ying. The former media boss has been found guilty by three High Court judges of two charges of colluding with foreign forces and a third of conspiracy to print seditious articles. The court found he used his news outlet and social media platforms to trigger international sanctions and incite... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3336523/jimmy-lai-verdict-testament-hong-kongs-rule-law?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3336523/jimmy-lai-verdict-testament-hong-kongs-rule-law?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Dec 2025 23:15:14 +0000 Victor Sanjinez,Jeffie Lam Victor Sanjinez,Jeffie Lam Former Hong Kong media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has been found guilty on all three charges after a landmark national security trial, nearly five years after he was first denied bail following his arrest. The 78-year-old businessman turned opposition activist, who founded the now-defunct Apple Daily tabloid, was convicted on Monday of two charges of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and a third count of conspiracy to print and distribute seditious publications. The high-profile trial... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3336543/jimmy-lai-trial-post-sketches-offer-public-glimpse-courtroom-moments?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3336543/jimmy-lai-trial-post-sketches-offer-public-glimpse-courtroom-moments?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Dec 2025 16:48:31 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong Hong Kong’s High Court found former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying guilty on all charges in his national security trial on Monday, ruling that he had used his tabloid newspaper and international connections to push for foreign intervention and sanctions against the local and central governments. In open proceedings watched by a packed gallery of spectators including representatives of foreign governments at West Kowloon Court, a panel of three judges convicted the businessman turned opposition... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3336541/court-finds-hong-kongs-jimmy-lai-guilty-after-landmark-national-security-trial?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3336541/court-finds-hong-kongs-jimmy-lai-guilty-after-landmark-national-security-trial?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Dec 2025 16:11:46 +0000 Oscar Liu,Harvey Kong,Connor Mycroft Oscar Liu,Harvey Kong,Connor Mycroft Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s guilty verdict in a landmark Hong Kong national security trial has become a political flashpoint, as China’s Western opponents demand the former media boss’ immediate release and Beijing strongly rejects their interference. But while the High Court’s ruling on Monday could send the businessman turned opposition activist to jail for life, Western countries were unlikely to hit Hong Kong with more sanctions as they needed to cooperate with Beijing to offset unfair trade... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3336533/jimmy-lais-conviction-hong-kong-becomes-flashpoint-between-china-west?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3336533/jimmy-lais-conviction-hong-kong-becomes-flashpoint-between-china-west?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Dec 2025 15:00:29 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Former Hong Kong media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s “rabid hatred” of the Communist Party of China has led him down a “thorny path”, according to the judges who found him guilty on three counts of national security offences. The 855-page full judgment released on Monday started with the “rags-to-riches” success story of Lai, but was overshadowed by criticism, particularly regarding the credibility of his evidence. Born in Guangzhou in 1947, Lai smuggled himself into Hong Kong at the age of 12,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3336529/jimmy-lais-rabid-hatred-party-led-him-down-thorny-path-hong-kong-court?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3336529/jimmy-lais-rabid-hatred-party-led-him-down-thorny-path-hong-kong-court?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Dec 2025 14:19:37 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong A landmark ruling of Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s marathon trial has revealed how the former media boss used his personal ties with foreign political figures to solicit intervention before and after the national security law took effect five years ago. In an 855-page judgment handed down on Monday, three High Court judges ruled that Lai intended to tap his vast political network to trigger sanctions against Beijing and the Hong Kong government, knowing that his requests would be heeded. The 78-year-old... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3336521/hong-kongs-jimmy-lai-used-personal-ties-seek-foreign-sanctions-court-ruling?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3336521/hong-kongs-jimmy-lai-used-personal-ties-seek-foreign-sanctions-court-ruling?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Dec 2025 13:10:30 +0000 SCMP Reporters SCMP Reporters This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Get faster notifications on the latest updates by downloading our app. Three Hong Kong judges who presided over former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s high-profile national security trial for more than 1½ years returned their verdict on Monday, finding him guilty on all charges. The 78-year-old founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily has spent most of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3336418/jimmy-lai-trial-all-eyes-hong-kong-court-set-deliver-verdict?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3336418/jimmy-lai-trial-all-eyes-hong-kong-court-set-deliver-verdict?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Dec 2025 01:48:37 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Jiang Chuqin Matthew Cheng,Jiang Chuqin Hong Kong’s High Court will hand down its judgment in the national security trial of former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying on Monday. Judges Esther Toh Lye-ping, Susana Maria D’Almada Remedios and Alex Lee Wan-tang will deliver their verdict at 10am in a hearing that is expected to last for about an hour, according to the judiciary’s website, following a marathon trial that concluded in August after more than 1½ years. Lai, who has been detained since December 2020, has denied two conspiracy... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3336153/hong-kong-court-hand-down-verdict-jimmy-lai-national-security-trial-monday?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3336153/hong-kong-court-hand-down-verdict-jimmy-lai-national-security-trial-monday?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Dec 2025 03:16:56 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong authorities have hit back at US politicians’ “absurd and fact-twisting” allegations over the health of former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and their call for his unconditional release from prison. A spokesman for the Hong Kong government described the resolution introduced in the United States House of Representatives as an attempt to pressure the city’s courts over Lai’s ongoing trial, accusing the body of “blatant hypocrisy and double standards” given the country’s own suspected... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3335417/hong-kong-government-hits-out-us-politicians-absurd-resolution-jimmy-lai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3335417/hong-kong-government-hits-out-us-politicians-absurd-resolution-jimmy-lai?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Dec 2025 16:27:55 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Beijing’s foreign ministry arm in Hong Kong has slammed US politicians for “exonerating and glorifying” jailed former media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying who is facing national security charges, urging them to stop interfering in the city and China’s affairs. The Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong issued a statement on Saturday, expressing its strong dissatisfaction and opposition to the US politicians who signed a letter to US President Donald Trump supporting... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3330314/beijing-slams-us-politicians-glorifying-jimmy-lai-meddling-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3330314/beijing-slams-us-politicians-glorifying-jimmy-lai-meddling-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Oct 2025 10:02:50 +0000