A Hong Kong court finds Jimmy Lai guilty on charges of colluding with foreign forces and sedition, under a China-imposed national security law. Media freedom groups have condemned the courts decision. Law and JusticeChinaHong Kong court finds pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai guiltyKieran Burke with AP, Reuters, AFP1 hour ago1 hour agoA Hong Kong court finds Jimmy Lai guilty on charges of colluding with foreign forces and sedition, under a China-imposed national security law. Media freedom groups have condemned the court’s decision.
People queue outside the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts building in Hong Kong, China, December 15, 2025
People queued outside the court where Lai’s verdict was issued in Hong Kong
The High Court in Hong Kong on Monday found pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai guilty on two charges of foreign collusion and one charge of sedition.
The outspoken Beijing critic was arrested in 2020, under a national security law that was enforced by China after massive pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong a year before.
The conviction may see him spend the rest of his life in prison. Lai pleaded not guilty to all charges.
What the judge said
Judge Esther Toh said that the evidence showed Lai had extended “constant invitations” to the US, in an effort to bring down the Chinese government.
“There is no doubt that the first defendant had harbored his resentment and hatred of the PRC for many of his adult years,” Toh said, using an acronym for the People’s Republic of China.
Toh said the court was satisfied that Lai was the “mastermind” of the conspiracies and that the only reasonable inference from the evidence was that Lai sought the downfall of the ruling Communist Party.
