Plea Hearing in Jimmy Lai Case: Over a Hundred Queue Overnight for Public Gallery

(Hong Kong, 12th)—Hong Kong Next Media founder Jimmy Lai has been found guilty of three national security charges related to conspiracy to collude with foreign forces, with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The Hong Kong court began handling his plea hearing on the 12th.

Police were on high alert that day, with counter-terrorism special forces armed and standing guard outside the court. More than a hundred members of the public queued overnight to secure seats in the public gallery.

Last month, Lai was convicted by the court of two counts of conspiracy to collude with a foreign country or external elements to endanger national security, and one count of conspiracy to print, publish, sell, offer for sale, distribute, display, and/or reproduce seditious publications—a total of three offences. Starting the morning of the 12th, the court at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court is hearing pleas for Jimmy Lai and eight other already convicted defendants, including six former senior executives of Apple Daily. Four days have been tentatively set aside for this process.

Jimmy Lai’s wife, Teresa Lee (Li Yunqin), other defendants’ family members, as well as consular representatives from France, the European Union, and other countries and regions attended the court hearing.

The court stated last month that Jimmy Lai has been found guilty, and that the final plea statements for the entire case are expected to take place in January 2026. Following the relevant submissions, sentencing will be announced on a later date.