Jimmy Lai found guilty of colluding with foreign forces

Hong Kong's High Court on Monday found media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, founder of the now-defunct tabloid Apple Daily, guilty of violating the National Security Law for Hong Kong, including on two counts of conspiracy to collude with the foreign forces.

Three Apple Daily-related companies -- Apple Daily Ltd, Apple Daily Printing Ltd, and AD Internet Ltd -- were also found guilty on two charges: Conspiracy to print, publish, sell, offer for sale, distribute, display and/or reproduce seditious publications, and conspiracy to commit collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security.

In their verdict of more than 850 pages, the judges said they are satisfied that Lai was the mastermind in the conspiracy to collude with foreign forces.

Lai's testimony was "at times contradictory, inconsistent, evasive and unreliable", the judges said, citing indisputable evidence proving that Lai clearly conspired with the senior management in Apple Daily and other defendants in the case to request foreign countries to impose sanctions or to engage in other hostile activities against the People's Republic of China, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or both.

The judges are also convinced Lai had harbored his resentment and hatred of the PRC for many of his adult years and this is apparent from his articles.

They stressed that Lai was not on trial for his for his political views or beliefs and the verdict was made after a thorough and careful consideration of all the evidence in the case.

The hearing started at 10 am and lasted about an hour, marking the end of an 18-month marathon trial that began on Dec 18, 2023. The prosecution had completed its presentation of evidence in June 2024, while Lai finished giving his testimony in March.

Lai's trial was the first under the NSL for the offense of colluding with foreign forces, with those found guilty of the relevant charges facing a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

The hearing on mitigation submissions, expected to last for four days, was scheduled on Jan 12, 2026.

The 78-year-old businessman, now known as an activist, is the most prominent figure to face prosecution under the city's national security law.

On Monday morning, hundreds of residents and media representatives gathered outside the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts hoping to get in to witness the high-profile case. A total of 507 public seats and 116 press seats were allocated.

Police increased their presence around the courthouse, with officers stationed outside reinforced by armored vehicles and patrol cars.

Lai was accused of utilizing his media outlets and online platforms to prompt international sanctions and incite public disaffection towards authorities from April 2019 to June 2021.

Moreover, it is claimed that he offered financial support to the "Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong" advocacy group to provoke hostile actions from Western powers.