Pro-democracy Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai convicted in high-profile national security trial

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 6 min read 100% complete December 15, 2025 at 09:03 AM

AI Summary

long article 6 min

Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai was convicted of colluding with foreign forces under the city's national security law (NSL). The 78-year-old UK citizen, who has been jailed since December 2020, faces a possible life sentence. The court found that Lai used his now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper to lobby foreign governments to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and China. Hong Kong's chief executive welcomed the verdict, while rights groups condemned it as a "judicial farce," arguing the NSL is used to crush dissent. Lai, a key figure in the 2019 pro-democracy protests, denied the charges, stating he only relayed information and asked for verbal support from foreign officials. Beijing introduced the NSL in response to the protests, granting authorities broad powers to jail those deemed threats.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

John Lee ×240% People's Republic of China (PRC) ×350% Hong Kong ×560% Jimmy Lai ×780%

Keywords

jimmy lai 100% hong kong 90% national security law 90% pro-democracy movement 80% china 70% collusion with foreign forces 70% political dissent 60% apple daily 60% foreign sanctions 50% judicial farce 50%