The guilty verdict this week against Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai was widely expected but remains a crushing blow, his daughter Claire Lai told CNN. She blamed what she described as the city's "highly compromised" legal system under Chinese rule and said the 855‑page judgment failed to address core concerns about press freedom and fundamental rights.
Trial, Verdict and Potential Sentence
The 78‑year‑old Lai now faces the prospect of life imprisonment after a two‑year trial under Hong Kong's national security law, imposed by Beijing following months of large and sometimes violent pro‑democracy protests. Prosecutors pointed to Lai's lobbying of US officials during Donald Trump's presidency — including meetings with then‑Vice President Mike Pence and then‑Secretary of State Mike Pompeo — as evidence of collusion with foreign forces. Much of that activity occurred before the security law was enacted.
Jonathan Price and Claire Lai during a CNN interview. - CNN
Critics' Concerns And Legal Team Response
Critics and members of Lai's legal team argue the process departed from Hong Kong's common‑law traditions. National security cases so far have been heard by panels of specially selected judges rather than juries, a change that opponents say imports more authoritarian practices into the city's judiciary.
"This was not going to be solved in the once promising but now highly compromised Hong Kong legal system," Claire Lai said. She described the security law as "vague, draconian and arbitrary."
Human rights barrister Jonathan Price KC, part of Lai's international legal team, called the proceedings "performative," saying legal reasoning in the case was "scarce to say the least, if not non‑existent," and warned any lengthy sentence could effectively amount to a life term.
Police lead Hong kong pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai (center) away from his home after he was arrested under the new national security law in Hong kong on August 10, 2020. - Vernon Yuen/AFP/Getty Images
Official Responses
Hong Kong authorities have repeatedly rejected suggestions the trial was politically motivated. Officials said the court's 855‑page ruling clearly explains the legal analysis and that Lai was not prosecuted for his political views. The Hong Kong government defended the integrity of the judiciary and urged foreign governments not to interfere in China's internal affairs. China’s foreign ministry likewise called Hong Kong matters purely domestic and urged media to report objectively.
Health And Family Statements
The Lai family says Jimmy Lai's health has sharply deteriorated during five years in detention. Claire Lai said he lost more than 10 kilograms in under a year and now suffers from diabetes, heart problems, high blood pressure, and impaired eyesight and hearing. Hong Kong authorities disputed those claims, saying Lai has received "adequate and comprehensive" medical care and that daily check‑ups were arranged.
Claire Lai, daughter of Jimmy Lai, attends a news conference, on December 15, in Washington. - Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP
Background And International Reaction
Born in mainland China, Lai moved to British‑ruled Hong Kong at age 12, rose from factory worker to clothing magnate, and founded the tabloid Apple Daily in 1995. The paper became a leading pro‑democracy voice until its forced closure in 2021. The case has drawn international attention, with figures such as former US President Donald Trump saying he raised Lai's situation with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Family Resolve
Despite the verdict and the family's grief, Claire Lai said they will continue to fight. "One thing that our father has taught us is that we should face any adversity with a certain amount of cheer and spirit," she said.
