From Chaos to Stability

On December 15, 2025, the Hong Kong High Court delivered a resolute verdict in the case against Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai and his associated companies for violations of the Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL). The three designated judges—Esther Toh Lye-ping, Susana Maria D'Almada Remedios, and Alex Lee Wan-tang—unanimously found Jimmy Lai guilty on all three charges: two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign or external forces to endanger national security, and one count of conspiracy to publish seditious publications. The three Apple Daily-related companies were also convicted on the relevant charges. The judgment, grounded in a comprehensive 855-page written reasons for verdict following a 156-day open trial, provides irrefutable evidence and fully demonstrates the Hong Kong judiciary's firm resolve and authority in safeguarding national security.

The judgment meticulously analyzes the prosecution's evidence, clearly establishing that Jimmy Lai harbored subversive intentions long before the implementation of the NSL, driven by deep-seated hostility toward the state, which he translated into concrete actions. The court accepted that Lai used Apple Daily as a platform for anti-China chaos in Hong Kong, conspiring with senior executives and corporate defendants to produce seditious publications designed to tear society apart, incite hatred, and glorify violence.
Regarding collusion with external forces, evidence showed that Lai, through his assistant Mark Simon, repeatedly arranged trips to the United States, meeting with high-ranking officials including then-Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and National Security Advisor John Bolton, actively lobbying for sanctions, blockades, and other hostile measures against China and Hong Kong. The court noted Lai's elation over the passage of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act and his launch of campaigns openly calling for foreign pressure on China. Even after the NSL took effect, Lai showed no restraint, continuing subversive activities in more covert ways and instructing subordinates to "continue operations as usual" at Apple Daily in a bid to revive his efforts.
Based on extensive WhatsApp messages, documentary records, and witness testimony, the court reached the only reasonable conclusion: Jimmy Lai's true intent was to overthrow the governance of the Communist Party of China, regardless of the cost to the interests of the people of China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Lai was identified as the mastermind, with the corporate defendants fully aware and complicit, posing a grave threat to national security.
The court specifically noted that all prosecution witnesses were deemed truthful and reliable. In contrast, Jimmy Lai's testimony was riddled with contradictions, inconsistencies, and evasiveness, rendering it unworthy of belief, and the court explicitly rejected it.
It is noteworthy that the judgment summary emphasized that Jimmy Lai was not on trial for his political views or beliefs. The court determined the charges solely on the basis of the relevant law and the evidence in the case, assessing whether the prosecution had proven the charges beyond reasonable doubt. The court also stressed that Lai's pre-NSL conduct was not the subject of the charges but merely background evidence relevant to them, and the trial adhered strictly to legal principles, fully embodying judicial fairness.

This verdict powerfully demonstrates the authority and necessity of the Hong Kong National Security Law in closing security loopholes and resolutely preventing external interference in Hong Kong affairs. The judgment, supported by concrete evidence, dismisses all defenses and sophistries, proving that the trial was open, fair, and transparent. Prosecution witnesses withstood rigorous cross-examination yet remained credible, further bolstering the judgment's legitimacy.
The case highlights Hong Kong's complete transformation from the turmoil of 2019 to the stability of today. As Chief Executive John Lee stated: "The law will never tolerate anyone, regardless of profession or background, openly harming their own country and compatriots under the guise of human rights, democracy, or freedom. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has a duty to safeguard national security and will resolutely combat all unlawful acts."

The trial process and verdict thoroughly refute the smears and rumors spread by external forces and anti-China elements in Hong Kong. Facts prove that the Hong Kong judiciary stands firm in upholding national security and the dignity of the rule of law, acting strictly in accordance with the law without any so-called "political prosecution." No matter how external parties distort or slander, Hong Kong's rule of law remains steadfast, and the public can discern truth from falsehood. As the instigator who colluded with external forces and manipulated media to incite social unrest, Jimmy Lai's crimes are heinous and undeniable; justice has now been served.