Jimmy Lai Convicted; Hong Kong Journalists Association: Deep Regret

Jimmy Lai, founder of Hong Kong's Next Digital, was convicted on January 15 of two counts of "conspiracy to collude with foreign or external forces" and one count of "conspiracy to publish seditious publications," with all three charges found guilty. The Hong Kong Journalists Association expressed deep regret over this verdict.

The statement noted that nearly five years have passed since the closure of Apple Daily, and the management and editorial staff of Apple Daily, including Jimmy Lai, have been in custody ever since; Article 27 of the Basic Law guarantees freedom of the press, but in this case, individuals ended up behind bars for engaging in journalistic work, causing irreversible harm to the media sector.

The statement said that this internationally prominent national security case forced a major media outlet to cease operations before the trial had even commenced, leaving hundreds of journalists unemployed and significantly reducing the public’s access to news; over the past several years, the media’s ability to serve as the fourth estate and monitor those in power has been weakened, society’s voices have shifted from plurality toward singularity, self-censorship has intensively accelerated in this climate of fear, and those in authority can no longer accurately gauge public sentiment.

The statement called on the government to uphold its commitment to protect press freedom so that journalists can continue to serve Hong Kong without fear.

According to Central News Agency reports, Beh Lih Yi, Asia Program Coordinator at the Committee to Protect Journalists, said: “This sham conviction is a disgraceful act of persecution.”

She continued: “This verdict highlights Hong Kong’s complete disregard for press freedom, which is precisely what the local mini-constitution (the Basic Law) is meant to protect.”

“Jimmy Lai’s only ‘crime’ is running a newspaper and defending democracy. With each day he spends in prison, there is a higher risk to his health and his life. He must be immediately reunited with his family.”

Sarah Brooks, China Director of Amnesty International, said: “This verdict shows that Hong Kong’s so-called ‘National Security Law’ is not meant to protect the people but to silence them. It also serves as a warning to all business people in Hong Kong: pursuing business opportunities in this city comes with severe legal risks.”

She said, “This verdict is not just about one person; it’s the latest development in Hong Kong’s ongoing, systematic crackdown on free speech. The targets are not only protest movements or political parties, but also the very basic belief in people’s ability—and duty—to hold those in power to account.”