‘Evil deeds’: Hong Kong leader praises lengthy jail sentence for Jimmy Lai

US, UK officials call for Jimmy Lai’s release on ‘humanitarian’ grounds due to his age and health.Published On 10 Feb 2026Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee has praised the sentencing of pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison, saying he had committed “numerous heinous crimes, and his evil deeds were beyond measure”.Lee’s condemnation on Tuesday of the former Apple Daily newspaper owner came as officials in the United States, the United Kingdom and several other countries, as well as the United Nations, said the jailing of Lai was “unjust” and that the 78-year-old should be freed on humanitarian grounds.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4US kills two people in attack on boat in eastern Pacific, one survivorlist 2 of 4Russia warns Cuba fuel situation critical; Havana slams ‘cruel’ US tacticslist 3 of 4Trump threatens to block opening of Detroit-Canada bridgelist 4 of 4Somalia, Saudi Arabia sign agreement on military cooperationend of list“This verdict needs to be promptly quashed as incompatible with international law,” UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Turk said.The Hong Kong chief executive said Lai’s newspaper had “poisoned” Hong Kong citizens and encouraged them to break the law and become radical and violent, during months of antigovernment demonstrations in 2019.“The severe sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment imposed on him manifests that the rule of law is upheld and justice is done, and also brings great relief to all,” Lee said.Lai was sentenced on Monday alongside eight other defendants, including six former Apple Daily employees, who received prison terms ranging from six years and three months to 10 years.His sentence was the harshest yet to be handed down in Hong Kong since Beijing imposed national security legislation on the semi-autonomous city in 2020.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the sentence as an “unjust and tragic conclusion” to Lai’s case.“It shows the world that Beijing will go to extraordinary lengths to silence those who advocate fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong,” he said in a statement shared on X.