17/12/2025
The Jimmy Lai (and the Apple Daily group companies) related National Security Law cases drew international headlines. The verdicts were handed down on 16 December 2026. The defendant were accused of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and conspiracy to publish seditious publications. After 156 days of trial, the court found all defendants guilty.
The court issued a 855-page judgment - the three judges had meticulously examined all evidence and witness testimonies and had strictly scrutinised every aspect of the cases. Jimmy Lai and all defendants had full benefit of their right to defense in accordance with the law, with Jimmy Lai personally testifying in court for 52 days. The prosecution adduced conclusive and ample evidence, including testimonies from five accomplice witnesses and pardoned witnesses, as well as a large amount of physical evidence such as 161 seditious publications involved in the cases and video content from Jimmy Lai's interview program "Live Chat with Jimmy Lai."
The judges pointed out that Jimmy Lai's testimony was inconsistent and unreliable. Based on the substantial evidence presented by the prosecution, the three judges unanimously ruled that Jimmy Lai had consistently used Apple Daily and his personal influence to incite hatred against the Central Government and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, collude with foreign forces to impose sanctions on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government and the nation, and endanger national security. Consequently, he was found guilty in accordance with the law, a verdict fully in line with the spirit of the rule of law and judicial procedures.
Looking back to 2019, Jimmy Lai and Apple Daily incited a large number of young people to participate in street violence and vandalism of shops, leading many youths astray and irreparably impacting their life trajectories. Their actions of colluding with external forces in an attempt to undermine Hong Kong seriously endangered national security, social stability, and the well-being of citizens.
We strongly support this verdict by the Hong Kong court as we believe this shows our city’s ability to effectively uphold the supremacy of the rule of law and social justice remains untouched, that this further reinforces the foundation of Hong Kong's legal system, and safeguards national security in accordance with the law.
