https://www.scmp.com/rss/522398/feed Apple Daily was a Hong Kong-based Chinese-language newspaper, founded by Jimmy Lai in 1995. Operating in the media industry, it was known for its tabloid format, mixing news, celebrity gossip, and investigative journalism. Primarily serving the Hong Kong public, it gained a wide circulation and was a leading news source, notably for its strong pro-democracy and anti-Beijing editorial stance. Headquartered in Tseung Kwan O, its overall business focus was on providing a critical voice and acting... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Ronny Tong Ronny Tong The death of Ted Turner, who founded CNN in 1980 as the world’s first 24-hour television news channel, is a poignant reminder of the glory days of the fourth estate. CNN made day-and-night news coverage, including at the front line of battlefields, an everyday experience for many people. The rise of the internet and ever more channels of news delivery has enabled a global audience of news consumers, attuned to reports delivered from all around the world. This has turned the most successful news... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3353284/jimmy-lai-case-shows-press-freedom-not-get-out-jail-free-ticket?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3353284/jimmy-lai-case-shows-press-freedom-not-get-out-jail-free-ticket?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 01:30:06 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reaffirmed its “firm support” for Hong Kong’s judicial authorities when asked whether Beijing would consider releasing jailed former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying ahead of US President Donald Trump’s three-day state visit starting Wednesday. “[Jimmy] Lai Chee-ying is the principal mastermind and perpetrator behind the riots that shook Hong Kong,” ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a press briefing, when asked whether Beijing would consider Lai’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3353308/china-backs-hong-kong-courts-spurns-calls-free-jimmy-lai-ahead-trump-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3353308/china-backs-hong-kong-courts-spurns-calls-free-jimmy-lai-ahead-trump-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 13:06:51 +0000 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 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu The government has filed an application to confiscate properties linked to crimes committed by former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying in accordance with Hong Kong’s national security laws. A government spokesman on Thursday also said the application filed with the Court of First Instance aimed to achieve the “important objectives of preventing and suppressing acts and activities endangering national security”. Lai, 78, founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily tabloid-style newspaper was sentenced... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3348846/hong-kong-authorities-seek-forfeiture-order-properties-tied-jimmy-lais-crimes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3348846/hong-kong-authorities-seek-forfeiture-order-properties-tied-jimmy-lais-crimes?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 13:21:19 +0000 Fiona Chow Fiona Chow A Hong Kong court has dropped a charge against the former financial chief of Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s flagship media company after he testified for the prosecution against his ex-employer in a fraud trial. The ruling came after the Court of Appeal last week quashed Lai’s fraud conviction for operating a consultancy office from the premises of his now-defunct tabloid newspaper, Apple Daily, finding that the prosecution had failed to prove that the media mogul had made a “false representation” or was... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3348102/charge-dropped-against-ex-apple-daily-executive-who-turned-prosecution-witness?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3348102/charge-dropped-against-ex-apple-daily-executive-who-turned-prosecution-witness?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 06:33:33 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong has condemned the United Kingdom for undermining the city’s rule of law and meddling in local affairs after British authorities pledged to use “every opportunity” to press for the release of former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, who was jailed for 20 years over national security offences. The government issued a strong rebuttal in the early hours of Friday, dismissing London’s comments as “misleading and irresponsible” after the UK expressed concerns over Hong Kong’s erosion of human... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3348075/hong-kong-slams-uk-undermining-citys-rule-law-calls-release-jimmy-lai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3348075/hong-kong-slams-uk-undermining-citys-rule-law-calls-release-jimmy-lai?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 03:29:47 +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 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft A Hong Kong appellate court has quashed Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s fraud conviction for operating a consultancy office from his now-defunct tabloid-style newspaper, Apple Daily, finding that the prosecution had failed to prove the media mogul had made a “false representation” or could be held liable for concealment. In a judgment delivered on Thursday, the Court of Appeal ruled that although Apple Daily had breached its contract by allowing Dico Consultants to operate from its premises, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3344665/ex-media-boss-jimmy-lai-wins-appeal-over-fraud-conviction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3344665/ex-media-boss-jimmy-lai-wins-appeal-over-fraud-conviction?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 02:29:07 +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 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Safeguarding national security does not come to an end with the jailing of former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying. A timely reminder came on Tuesday as Beijing published a white paper warning of zero tolerance of any offences in its “unrelenting fight” to defend national security. The State Council’s document expounded on the responsibility of the central government for national security, the achievements of the local government in fulfilling its constitutional duty in safeguarding national... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3343077/hong-kong-must-keep-unrelenting-fight-safeguard-national-security?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3343077/hong-kong-must-keep-unrelenting-fight-safeguard-national-security?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 23:15:13 +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 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 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 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 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 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s headlines in 2025 were shaped by a wide cast of newsmakers, from political heavyweights to everyday residents. Among them were former lawmaker Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, gold medallist fencer turned legislator Vivian Kong Man-wai and a local mother who won widespread praise for speaking out after a hot-air balloon festival fiasco. The Post looks back at the figures who dominated the headlines over the past year. Regina Ip “Don’t block my way to the meeting … Move away,” the 75-year-old... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3338299/politicians-athletes-everyday-people-who-made-headlines-hong-kong-2025?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3338299/politicians-athletes-everyday-people-who-made-headlines-hong-kong-2025?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Jan 2026 02:00:13 +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 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 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 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 Brian Wong Brian Wong A Hong Kong court has remanded a news commentator in custody for allegedly violating the domestic national security law over seditious content posted on social media, including remarks about last month’s deadly Tai Po fire. Wong Kwok-ngon, better known by his pen name Wong On-yin, is the first person to be prosecuted over inappropriate comments made after the Wang Fuk Court tragedy that left at least 160 people dead. A charge sheet available for press inspection indicated the 71-year-old... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3335716/hong-kong-commentator-remanded-over-seditious-online-posts-including-about-tai-po-fire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3335716/hong-kong-commentator-remanded-over-seditious-online-posts-including-about-tai-po-fire?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Dec 2025 06:32:50 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong’s national security police have arrested a 71-year-old man on suspicion of disclosing details of one of their probes, invoking a provision that covers prejudicing such investigations for the first time. Police said the National Security Department conducted an enforcement operation on Saturday, and the suspect was arrested. He was accused of violating the provision of “no prejudicing of investigation of offences endangering national security” under Section 88 of the Safeguarding... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3335481/hong-kong-national-security-law-provision-used-first-time-make-arrest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3335481/hong-kong-national-security-law-provision-used-first-time-make-arrest?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Dec 2025 16:51:13 +0000 Bernard Chan Bernard Chan Charlie Kirk’s death in the United States was a major political shock. But what followed was more revealing: employees disciplined for social media posts, celebrities facing backlash for controversial remarks and businesses scrambling to distance themselves from the fallout. The controversy highlighted a broader truth of the digital age: a single comment, whether in jest or in earnest, can escalate into a crisis. In today’s hyperconnected world, words travel instantly, reach audiences well... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3327429/even-west-era-consequence-free-expression-over?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3327429/even-west-era-consequence-free-expression-over?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Oct 2025 12:30:08 +0000 Wang Xiangwei Wang Xiangwei The familiar signs of hustle and bustle in Hong Kong are back. Mainland tourists are thronging major attractions, from the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade to Disneyland Resort. Foreign tourists are returning in noticeable numbers, adding a cosmopolitan flair. Overseas business travellers are back in droves, too, as evidenced by the back-to-back exhibitions at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, which is booked solid until next July. Walking by recently, I was struck by the diversity on... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3324237/hong-kong-back-now-it-must-quickly-cement-its-international-status?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3324237/hong-kong-back-now-it-must-quickly-cement-its-international-status?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Sep 2025 21:30:07 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong After more than 1,700 days in custody and a trial that spanned more than 1½ years, former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying is now waiting for a verdict to be delivered in his marathon national security trial. The 77-year-old businessman turned opposition activist, who founded the now-defunct Apple Daily tabloid, is the most prominent figure yet to be prosecuted under the Beijing-decreed national security law. Western politicians have repeatedly condemned his prosecution as an attack on press... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3323664/key-takeaways-jimmy-lais-national-security-trial-and-what-comes-next?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3323664/key-takeaways-jimmy-lais-national-security-trial-and-what-comes-next?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Aug 2025 09:43:13 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong Former Hong Kong media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s marathon national security trial has come to a close after more than 1½ years, with the judges expected to hand down their verdict before the end of the year. After sitting for 156 days, the curtain came down on Thursday on the Apple Daily tabloid founder’s trial, following a decision by the three presiding High Court judges on how to handle certain evidence immaterial to determining guilt in the high-profile case. Madam Justice Esther Toh... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3323526/trial-hong-kongs-jimmy-lai-comes-close-after-1-1/2-years-verdict-later-date?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3323526/trial-hong-kongs-jimmy-lai-comes-close-after-1-1/2-years-verdict-later-date?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Aug 2025 11:38:08 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s lawyers have asked Hong Kong judges hearing his national security trial to discard prosecutors’ evidence that the tabloid founder devised an anti-China lobbying strategy, saying the witness making the allegation was an “admitted serial liar”. Defence lawyers on Wednesday wrapped up their closing arguments at West Kowloon Court for the former media boss’s national security trial, in which Lai is contesting charges of conspiracy to print seditious articles and collude with... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3323369/jimmy-lais-lawyers-ask-hong-kong-judges-discard-testimony-serial-liar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3323369/jimmy-lais-lawyers-ask-hong-kong-judges-discard-testimony-serial-liar?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Aug 2025 10:00:56 +0000