Jimmy Lai, Hong Kong’s high-profile media tycoon and pro-democracy advocate, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Monday for national security violations.

The sentence concludes nearly five years of legal proceedings that have drawn global attention.

Lai, 78, was convicted of two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of publishing seditious materials. His sentence, the harshest under Hong Kong’s national security law to date, falls within the “grave nature” penalty band of 10 years to life imprisonment.

The three national security judges emphasized that Lai was the “mastermind” behind persistent conspiracies involving Apple Daily staff, activists, and foreign contacts aimed at soliciting sanctions and hostile actions from countries including the U.S.

International reactions

Global leaders have condemned the sentence. U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer previously raised concerns about Lai’s imprisonment. Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and the Committee to Protect Journalists, described the 20-year term as “cruel” and “effectively a death sentence,” warning it marks a severe blow to press freedom in Hong Kong.

Health concerns

Lai, a British citizen, suffers from health issues including heart palpitations and high blood pressure. His family and supporters fear the sentence could be fatal. Despite his frail condition, Lai appeared at court on Monday, smiling and waving to supporters while wearing a white jacket and holding his hands together in a praying gesture.

Authorities acknowledged his age and medical issues but said they would not significantly reduce the sentence, only cutting a month off the sedition charge and one year each from the collusion charges.

Six former Apple Daily staffers, an activist, and a paralegal were also sentenced to prison terms ranging from six to ten years. Lai’s case underscores the severity of Hong Kong’s national security crackdown following the 2019 pro-democracy protests.

Dozens of supporters queued for days to attend the courtroom, expressing solidarity and praising Lai as the “conscience of Hong Kong.”