Hong Kong held a four‑day mitigation hearing for 78‑year‑old pro‑democracy advocate and former Apple Daily owner Jimmy Lai, who was convicted in December under the national security law. Lai faces potential life imprisonment for colluding with foreign forces; a separate sedition conviction carries up to two years. Several co‑defendants pleaded guilty and some testified for the prosecution during the 156‑day trial. The case has drawn international attention and diplomatic appeals.
Hong Kong Begins Mitigation Hearings for Jimmy Lai After National Security Conviction
FILE- Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai is escorted by Correctional Services officers to get on a prison van before appearing in a court in Hong Kong, Dec. 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)
A Hong Kong courtroom convened Monday for a four-day mitigation hearing in the sentencing phase for veteran pro‑democracy campaigner and former media proprietor Jimmy Lai, 78. Lai was convicted in December under Hong Kong's national security law; the most serious counts carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Background
Lai founded the now‑defunct Apple Daily and became a prominent critic of China’s Communist Party. He was arrested in 2020 after Beijing imposed a national security law following large anti‑government protests in 2019. In December, a panel of three judges found him guilty of conspiring to collude with foreign forces and conspiring to publish seditious material.
December Verdict and Judges' Findings
The judges concluded that Lai was a driving force behind the alleged conspiracies, citing what they described as his repeated appeals to foreign governments. They wrote that the only reasonable inference from the evidence was that Lai intended to seek the downfall of the Chinese Communist Party, both before and after the security law took effect. The court emphasized the prosecution was not targeting Lai’s political views alone but rather conduct it found to have endangered national security.
Mitigation Hearings and Possible Sentences
The current proceedings are mitigation hearings, where Lai and co‑defendants can present factors to ask for shorter terms ahead of formal sentencing. The security‑law collusion conviction can carry a sentence from three years to life, depending on the offense and the defendant’s role; the colonial‑era sedition charge carries a maximum of two years.
Co‑defendants, Guilty Pleas, and Trial Details
Six former Apple Daily executives and two activists pleaded guilty in connection with the case and may qualify for reduced sentences. Several of those who pleaded guilty also served as prosecution witnesses during the 156‑day trial. Named defendants who admitted guilt included publisher Cheung Kim‑hung, associate publisher Chan Pui‑man, editor‑in‑chief Ryan Law, executive editor‑in‑chief Lam Man‑chung, and writers Fung Wai‑kong and Yeung Ching‑kee, along with activists Andy Li and Chan Tsz‑wah.
Public Response and Courtroom Scene
Dozens queued before dawn to secure seats in the public gallery for the first day of mitigation hearings. Retiree Simon Ng, a former Apple Daily reader who camped in line, said:
“I want to let him know that he's not alone. Many people support him.”
Health, International Reaction and Diplomacy
Lai has spent roughly five years in custody and has visibly lost weight. His lawyers have reported health concerns, including heart palpitations, though Hong Kong authorities said a medical examination found no irregularities. The case has drawn criticism from foreign governments and diplomatic appeals: former U.S. President Donald Trump said he had raised Lai’s case with Chinese officials, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said securing the release of Lai — a British citizen — is a government priority.
What Comes Next
Mitigation hearings will continue over four days, after which sentencing will be scheduled. Observers say the case remains a focal point for concerns about press freedom, judicial independence and international relations involving Hong Kong and Beijing.
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