Hong Kong Court Convicts Jimmy Lai on Security Charges

Hong Kong's High Court convicted pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai on Monday of two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of conspiracy to publish seditious material under the city's national security law, a ruling that could result in life imprisonment. The 78-year-old founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, who has been detained for more than five years, pleaded not guilty to all charges. Sentencing is scheduled for a later date.

Lai's trial, which began in December 2023 and spanned 156 days, represents the most prominent application of the security legislation Beijing imposed in 2020 following widespread pro-democracy protests that rocked the city the previous year. Prosecutors accused Lai of using his newspaper and social media to incite hatred against Hong Kong and Chinese authorities, including through more than 150 opinion pieces, and of conspiring with associates to lobby foreign governments for sanctions and other measures against the territory and mainland China. Specific allegations included collaborations with individuals such as activist Andy Li and paralegal Chan Tsz-wah to urge actions from countries like the United...