Jimmy Lai and Associates Convicted in Hong Kong National Security Case, Sentencing Set for Today

Jimmy Lai, the 78-year-old founder of Next Media, has been convicted of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and conspiracy to publish seditious publications following a 156-day trial. Lai, along with three Apple Daily-related companies, was found guilty on three counts related to his alleged efforts to lobby international governments for sanctions against China and Hong Kong during the 2019 protests. Six former Apple Daily executives and two members of the "Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong" (SWHK) team had previously pleaded guilty to similar charges. Sentencing for all nine individual defendants and the three companies is scheduled for 10 a.m. today (February 9) at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts, acting as the High Court.

The case involves a total of 12 defendants: nine individuals and three companies. The individuals include Lai; six former Apple Daily executives—Cheung Kim-hung (63, former Next Media CEO), Chan Pui-man (54, former associate publisher), Ro Wai-kwong (50, former executive editor-in-chief), Lam Man-chung (54, former executive editor), Fung Wai-kong (60, former opinion page editor under the pen name Lo Fung), and Yeung Ching-kee (58, former opinion page editor under the pen name Li Ping); and two SWHK members, Andy Li Yu-hin (35) and Mark Chan Chi-ho (34).

The three companies charged are Apple Daily Limited, Apple Daily Printing Limited, and AD Internet Limited.

Guilty Pleas and Charges

The six Apple Daily executives and the two SWHK members pleaded guilty prior to the trial. Li and Chan admitted guilt in August 2021 to one count each of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces. The executives followed suit in November 2023.

The defendants faced three main charges:

- Lai and the three companies were accused of conspiracy to publish seditious publications, involving 161 articles.

- Lai, the three companies, and the six executives were charged with conspiracy to collude with foreign forces.

- Lai, along with Li and Chan, faced an additional count of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces.

Penalties for conspiracy to publish seditious publications include a fine of up to HK$5,000 and up to two years' imprisonment for a first offense, or three years for subsequent ones. Under the National Security Law (NSL), collusion with foreign forces carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

All nine individual defendants have been in custody for four to five years. Lai and the two SWHK members have been detained since 2020, exceeding five years, while the executives have been held for over four years.