China critic Jimmy Lai given 20-yr jail after landmark trial

Hong Kong's most vocal China critic, media tycoon Jimmy Lai, was sentenced on Monday to 20 years in prison, ending the city's biggest national security case that has fuelled global concerns about Beijing's clampdown on freedoms in the ex-British colony. Lai's sentence on two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one for publishing seditious materials ends a legal saga that has lasted nearly five years.

The 78-year-old British citizen had denied all the charges against him, telling the court he was a "political prisoner" facing persecution from Beijing. Lai, founder of the feisty and now shuttered Apple Daily newspaper, was first arrested in Aug 2020 and was convicted last year.


His sentence was within the harshest penalty tier for offences of a "grave nature", reflecting the fact that he was the driving force behind "persistent" foreign collusion conspiracies, the three judges said in announcing their verdict. They cited prosecution evidence that the conspiracies had sought sanctions, blockades and other hostile acts from the US and other countries while involving a web of individuals including Apple Daily staff, activists and foreigners.

"In the present case, Lai was no doubt the mastermind of all three conspiracies charged and therefore he warrants a heavier sentence," the judges said.

'Sentence unjust and tragic'

The US, Britain, Australia, the European Union, Japan and Taiwan expressed concerns about the impact of the sentencing. US secretary of state Marco Rubio called the sentence "unjust and tragic", saying it showed the lengths to which China would go to silence advocates of freedoms in Hong Kong. "... Lai and his family have suffered enough. The US urges the authorities to grant Lai humanitarian parole," Rubio said.

Britain will "rapidly engage further on Lai's case", foreign minister Yvette Cooper said. Britain also announced an expansion of visa route for Hong Kong residents wanting to move to the UK.

A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in London urged Britain to "respect China's judicial sovereignty and stop interfering in China's internal affairs".

'Lai to pass away in prison'

Lai's friends and supporters say he is in frail health with diabetes, and should be freed. Lai's son, Sebastien, said the sentence was "devastating for our family"."Much more needs to be done and quickly because, if not, he's going to pass away in prison," Sebastien Lai, also a British citizen, said. He also urged Britain to pause its push to reset ties with China. Reuters