The media entrepreneur pleaded not guilty to two counts of collusion with foreign forces and one count of conspiracy to publish seditious publications. Despite that plea, a December verdict found him liable on all charges. The new sentence exceeds the previous highest punishment under the statute—an October 10-year term for former law professor and activist Benny Tai, who was convicted of conspiring to subvert state power in November 2024.
Lai has already spent more than five years in custody, serving an unrelated fraud sentence while awaiting judgment in the security case. Monday’s decision signals that time served on the fraud conviction does not offset the National Security Law penalty.
Apple Daily’s closure and the shrinking media landscape
Apple Daily, launched by Lai in 1995, gained prominence for its tabloid style and outspoken support of pro-democracy movements. Following the August 2020 arrests, police froze the company’s assets, detained additional staff, and conducted multiple newsroom searches. Financial paralysis and legal pressure prompted the newspaper to cease operations in June 2021, ending its 26-year run.
Press watchdogs have described the outlet’s shutdown as a marker of accelerating constraints on journalism in Hong Kong. The territory, once considered a regional hub of press freedom, has slipped lower in global press freedom indices every year since the security law’s introduction. The United Nations has noted rising concern about the impact of security legislation on fundamental rights (United Nations human rights office).
International reaction from governments and advocacy groups
Human rights organizations criticized the length of Monday’s sentence, calling it disproportionate. They argue that applying national security provisions to journalistic activity further constricts room for public debate in the Chinese special administrative region.
Governments have also weighed in. The United States, under former President Donald Trump, previously voiced sympathy for Lai’s situation and conveyed a request to Chinese President Xi Jinping that the publisher be released, though no additional measures followed. In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Keir Starmer raised the matter with Xi during a Beijing visit last month and told lawmakers that discussions about Lai’s fate would continue through diplomatic channels.
Taiwan’s administration labeled the verdict harsh and alleged that it undermines free expression and the public’s ability to scrutinize those in power. Taipei reiterated its position that open media environments are essential for holding authorities accountable.
Imagem: Internet
Official stance in Hong Kong and Beijing
Hong Kong officials maintain that the proceedings were based strictly on security concerns, not an attempt to muzzle the press. Prosecutors argued in court that Lai exploited his newspaper credentials to mask activities that threatened the sovereignty and safety of both Hong Kong and mainland China. They said the defendant orchestrated a coordinated campaign with overseas entities to push for punitive measures against the city and the country.
The National Security Law, enacted by Beijing and incorporated into local statutes in mid-2020, criminalizes secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces. Sentences can reach life imprisonment for the most serious transgressions. Critics contend that the language is broad enough to cover a wide range of dissent, while authorities insist it is vital for restoring order after months of large-scale protests in 2019.
Legal context and future proceedings
Monday’s ruling emerged from Hong Kong’s specialist national security panel within the High Court, which adjudicates cases without a jury. Lai’s legal team may still pursue additional avenues, including an appeal to the Court of Final Appeal. Any challenge would focus on due-process questions, as well as the proportionality of a 20-year term on an elderly defendant who has already spent considerable time behind bars.
Under Hong Kong procedures, a review of sentence length can be requested if there is a perceived miscarriage of justice or misapplication of legal principles. However, the National Security Law allows the prosecution to appeal for even longer sentences if it believes penalties are insufficient, giving authorities leverage in post-trial phases.
Broader implications for civil society
Lai’s conviction adds to a series of cases targeting activists, academics, and politicians since the security law took effect. Observers inside and outside the territory are watching whether Monday’s precedent influences sentencing norms in upcoming trials, including those of other media professionals and opposition figures.
Apple Daily’s demise has also had a ripple effect on the local media industry. Several smaller outlets have reduced coverage of sensitive political topics, and some journalists have chosen to relocate abroad. Industry associations report a decline in advertising revenue tied to political content, attributing the drop to fears of potential liability.
The Hong Kong government maintains that journalists can continue working freely if they do not cross legal boundaries. Yet arrests and asset freezes have prompted ongoing debate about where those boundaries lie and how they interact with traditional press protections long embedded in the city’s common-law framework.
Crédito da imagem: AFP via Getty Images
