On February 9, 2026, a Hong Kong court sentenced Next Media founder Jimmy Lai and six Apple Daily employees under the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
78-year-old Jimmy Lai is charged with conspiring to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security, and is guilty of violating the Hong Kong National Security Law. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with 18 years to be served in installments for fraud. This is the heaviest sentence ever imposed since the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law.
Six former Apple Daily senior executives were also sentenced to prison:
Former Next Digital CEO and former Apple Daily president Cheung Kim-hung: 6 years and 9 months
; Former Deputy Editor Chan Pui-man; 7 years
ago, Editor-in-Chief Law Wai-kwong; 10
years ago, Executive Editor-in-Chief Lam Man-chung; 10
years ago,English edition Executive Editor-in-Chief Fung Fung (Lu Fung); 10
years ago,Editorial Editor-in-Chief Yang Qingqi (Li Ping): 7 years and 3 months
Members of the ‘Chongguang Team,’ Chan Tsz Wah and Lee Yu Hin, were sentenced to 6 years and 3 months in prison and 7 years and 3 months respectively.
Jimmy Lai’s son, Lai Chongyan, called the 20-year sentence “a dark day for justice,” while his daughter Lai Cai was heartbroken by the verdict, saying that if the sentence were enforced, Jimmy Lai “would die in prison as a martyr.”
of State Rubio issued a statement regarding Jimmy Lai’s sentencing:
“This verdict is unjust and tragic.” It announces to the world that extreme measures have been taken to silence those seeking basic freedom in Hong Kong. He
also pointed out, “Mr. Lai and his family have suffered greatly,” and called for Jimmy Lai’s release on humanitarian grounds.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper issued a statement saying:
Jimmy Lai, a citizen, was imprisoned for 20 years solely for exercising his basic right to freedom of speech, with the aim of silencing critics of China. A 20-year sentence is tantamount to life imprisonment for a 78-year-old man. “I am deeply concerned about Mr. Lai’s health and once again urge the Hong Kong authorities to end this appalling ordeal and release him on humanitarian grounds so he can be reunited with his family.”
He also revealed plans to further negotiate with China, emphasizing that he would stand with Hong Kong people and demand that China jointly implement the Sino-British Joint Declaration.
Former aide to the Japanese Prime Minister, former Minister of Defense, and current chairman of the Japan Bipartisan Human Rights Diplomacy Parliamentary League
On March 17, 2026, former Prime Minister aide to Japanese Prime Minister Hajime Nakatani and former Defense Minister and current chairman of Japan’s Bipartisan Human Rights Diplomacy Parliamentary Alliance met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masamiki Ozaki. Under the name of the “Cross-Party Human Rights Diplomacy Parliamentary Alliance,” they lodged a protest with the Chinese government regarding the arrest and 20-year imprisonment of Hong Kong’s Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai on charges of “inciting illegal assembly.” We believe: “This judgment seriously violates freedom of speech, reporting, belief, and political expression, constitutes a violation of human rights, and clearly contravenes international human rights standards and the rule of law. Therefore, we resolve to condemn this judgment as an unjust judgment and call for Mr. Jimmy Lai’s early release.”
Elaine Pearson, Director of Asian Affairs at Human Rights Watch, said this sentence is “equivalent to a death sentence” for Jimmy Lai.
TheCommittee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) issued a statement condemning Jimmy Lai’s 20-year prison sentence.
Independent journalist and columnist Kao Yu stated:
Mr. Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years, and the court also made it clear that he would not grant a reduction based on age or health status. Jimmy Lai has been detained for five years, suffering from high blood pressure, palpitations, and diabetes. Such a cruel and unjust sentence is a verdict for the 285-day “anti-extradition movement” committed by Hong Kong people seven years ago, and a continuation of the June Fourth massacre 37 years ago.
Mr. Jimmy Lai is a symbol of Hong Kong’s spirit; the flame of freedom and rule of law still remains, and his influence will endure! Hong Kong’s history will stand up as an immortal monument!
student leader of the ‘89.44 Tiananmen Incident,’ and director of ‘Dialogue with China,’ stated that
Jimmy Lai has been heavily sentenced, and Beijing and Hong Kong authorities are clearly trying to prevent Jimmy Lai from leaving prison alive.
All of Jimmy Lai’s words and actions conformed to the principles of “peace, reason, and nonviolence,” but he faced the most brutal state violence that had lost all reason. This once again proves to the world that there can be no illusions about the CCP; this is a regime that is challenging human civilization and trampling on basic human rights
When Hong Kong’s suffering ends, it will be tied to China’s future. As long as the CCP does not fall, Hong Kong will never have a bright future.
strongly condemns China Democratic Solidarity Alliance as the CCP sentencing Jimmy Lai and other Hong Kong prisoners of conscience under the National Security Law
TheChina Democratic Solidarity Alliance expressed its strongest condemnation and outrage against the Hong Kong court’s ruling on February 9, 2026, sentencing Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison under the so-called Hong Kong National Security Law and long-term imprisonment for several journalists.
The only “crime” committed by Jimmy Lai and his accomplices was insisting on journalistic professionalism, expressing opinions, reporting facts, and defending freedom of speech. This verdict is a blatant political persecution, marking the full politicization of Hong Kong’s judiciary, and the National Security Law has become a tool for the CCP to suppress freedom and conscience.
This case clearly shows that “One Country, Two Systems,” “judicial independence,” and “press freedom” are now mere formalities in Hong Kong. This not only seriously tramples on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, but also openly challenges the fundamental values of human society.
The China Democratic Solidarity League solemnly appeals:
- Immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Jimmy Lai and all prisoners of conscience imprisoned; The
- countries of the free world take coordinated action to hold those responsible for persecution accountable;
- The international community continues to pressure the CCP until Hong Kong regains its freedom and rule of law.
When law serves totalitarianism, justice must be defended outside the courtroom.
We will continue to stand with all those who pay the price for freedom.
China Democratic Unity Alliance
, February 9, 2026;
Independent Chinese PEN Protest Statement on Jimmy Lai and Nine Others Receiving Heavy Sentences
; February10, 2026
The Independent Chinese PEN Society was shocked to learn that the Hong Kong West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court yesterday sentenced nine media professionals and social activists to prison terms ranging from twenty years to six years and three months, including our association’s honorary members Jimmy Lai, Law Wai-kwong, Lam Man Chung, Fung Wai-kwong, Yeung Ching-ki, Chan Pui-man, and Cheung Kim-hung. The PEN believes this verdict is clearly yet another instance of political persecution abusing the national security law to infringe on Hong Kong citizens’ freedom of speech and press publication rights. We strongly protest this and call on all sectors of insight to closely monitor the comprehensive deterioration of human rights in Hong Kong, urge the authorities of China and Hong Kong to correct such wrongful cases, drop all charges and sentences, and immediately release Jimmy Lai and nine others as well as all prisoners of conscience convicted of speech.
According to reports, former Next Digital Group founder Jimmy Lai pleaded not guilty but was sentenced to twenty years in prison on two counts of “conspiracy to collude with foreign forces” and one count of “conspiracy to publish seditious publications.” Six former Apple Daily executives were sentenced after pleading guilty to two charges in the same case: editor-in-chief Law Wai-kwong, who did not testify, Executive Editor Lam Man-chung, and English-language Executive Editor-in-Chief Fung Wai-kwong (Lu Fung) were each sentenced to ten years; vice president Chan Pui-man and CEO Cheung Kim-hung testified for seven years and six years and nine months, respectively; Li Yuxuan and Chen Zihua, members of the “Chongguang Team” who had ties to Lai, pleaded guilty to “conspiracy to collude with foreign forces” and testified, and were sentenced to seven years and three months and six years and three months respectively.
TheIndependent Chinese PEN also noted that in recent years, at least our association member Chow Hang-tung and honorary members Ho Chun-yan, Lee Cheuk-yan, Ho Kwai-lam, as well as Benny Tai, Ng Ching Hang, Leung Kwok-hung, Wong Bik Wan, Yeung Suet-ying, and Chan Chi-chuen remain imprisoned in Hong Kong despite being convicted of speech.
Additionally, according to reports, on the 15th of last month, Min Liangchen, a Henan member of our association who was detained in April two years ago, was sentenced to three years in prison for “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” for publishing articles overseas; On the 21st of last month, Du Bin, a Beijing member of our association who was detained in October last year, was transferred to the prosecutor’s office for review and prosecution on charges of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” for online remarks involving “attacking national leaders.” On the 1st of this month, independent journalist and former honorary member Liu Hu and his assistant Wu Yingjiao were arrested on suspicion of “false accusation, framing, and illegal business operations” for publishing online articles exposing abuse of power and corruption by local officials.
TheIndependent Chinese PEN Society strongly protests the regressive actions of the Chinese authorities and the Hong Kong SAR government in recent years, calling on all PEN members and people from all walks of life at home and abroad to pay closer attention to the comprehensive deterioration of human rights conditions in Hong Kong and China. It also urges the relevant parties:
1) correct the Hong Kong authorities’ misjudgments yesterday regarding Next Media Group, Apple Daily, and members of the “Re-Guang Team,” and immediately and unconditionally release our honorary members Jimmy Lai, Lam Man Chung, Fung Wai-kwong, and Yeung Ching-kei , Chen Pei-min, Zhang Jianhong, as well as Li Yu-xuan and Chen Zi-hua;
2) Correct all wrongful arrests and wrongful judgments by the Hong Kong authorities against pro-democracy activists who exercise fundamental human rights such as freedom of speech, press and publication, assembly, and freedom of march and demonstration, and immediately and unconditionally release our association members Chow Hang-tung and honorary members Albert Ho, Lee Cheuk-yan, Ho Kwai-lam, as well as Benny Tai, Ng Ching Hang, Leung Kwok-hung, Wong Bik Wan, Yeung Suet-ying, Chan Chi-chuen, and others;
3) Correct the Chinese authorities’ wrongful judgment of our association member Min Liangchen, and the wrongful arrests of members Du Bin, Liu Hu, and Wu Yingjiao, immediately and unconditionally release them.
Li
Yidong, representative council member of the Hong Kong Goddess of Democracy, and human rights activist Pan Jiawei delivered speeches on Jimmy Lai’s sentencing