{
  "id": 22,
  "slug": "2025-hong-kong-convicts-jimmy-lai-under-national-security-law",
  "title": "China (Hong Kong): conviction and 20-year sentence of the media owner Jimmy Lai under the National Security Law, 2025 to 2026",
  "occurred_on": "2025-12-15",
  "occurred_on_precision": "day",
  "ended_on": null,
  "jurisdiction": "HK",
  "country": "HK",
  "continent": "asia",
  "level": "state_or_province",
  "type": "arrest_or_detention",
  "tactic_primary": "detention_and_violence",
  "leader_slug": "john-lee",
  "issue_of_the_day": null,
  "outcome": "sustained",
  "outcome_on": "2026-02-08",
  "outcome_note": "Sentenced to 20 years in prison on 2026-02-08; no appeal is recorded in the sources cited.",
  "granularity": "granular",
  "era": "2020s",
  "summary": "On December 15, 2025, the High Court of Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China with its own courts, convicted Jimmy Lai, founder of the newspaper Apple Daily, on two counts of \"conspiracy to commit collusion with foreign forces\" under the National Security Law, which China's central government imposed on Hong Kong in 2020, and one count of \"conspiracy to publish seditious publications.\" On February 8, 2026, the court sentenced Lai to 20 years in prison. Apple Daily shut down in June 2021 after its accounts were frozen and much of its top leadership was arrested. Human Rights Watch, an international human rights organization, called the charges \"bogus.\"{c:111}",
  "what_happened": "On December 15, 2025, the High Court of Hong Kong convicted the media owner Jimmy Lai on two counts of conspiring to collude with foreign forces under the National Security Law, a law China's central government imposed on Hong Kong in 2020, and one count of conspiracy to publish seditious material under sedition legislation dating from British colonial rule. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China with its own courts and legal system.{c:83}{c:84}{c:85}{c:111}\n\nLai, founder of the newspaper Apple Daily and the magazine Next Magazine, had been detained since his arrest in 2020. Apple Daily shut down in June 2021 after its accounts were frozen and much of its top leadership was arrested, and Next Magazine also closed.{c:83}{c:84}{c:85}{c:111}\n\nOn February 8, 2026, the court sentenced Lai to 20 years in prison. Human Rights Watch called the charges \"bogus,\" and United Nations experts expressed dismay at the conviction.{c:83}{c:84}{c:85}{c:111}\n\nStatus as of 2026-09-22: In effect. Lai is imprisoned following his sentencing on February 8, 2026.{c:85}",
  "stated_justification": "Hong Kong prosecutors alleged that Lai conspired with foreign forces and published seditious material through Apple Daily, and the authorities treated the case as a national security matter under the 2020 law. The court ruled that Lai was the \"mastermind\" of the alleged conspiracies in all three counts.{c:83}",
  "effect_on_reporting": "Apple Daily and Next Magazine no longer publish. Apple Daily shut down in June 2021 after its accounts were frozen and much of its top leadership was arrested.{c:84}",
  "unknowns": "The sources cited do not state whether Lai has appealed (as of 2026-09-22).",
  "status": "in_effect",
  "status_updated_on": "2026-09-22",
  "external_ids": {},
  "illustration_key": null,
  "pub_state": "published",
  "published_at": "2026-09-22T20:42:18Z",
  "reviewed_on": "2026-09-22",
  "next_review_on": "2026-12-22",
  "revision": 20,
  "created_at": "2026-09-22T20:42:12Z",
  "updated_at": "2026-09-22T22:31:08Z",
  "country_name": "Hong Kong",
  "tactics": [
    "detention_and_violence",
    "outlet_licensing",
    "secrets_and_espionage_laws"
  ],
  "leader": {
    "slug": "john-lee",
    "name": "John Lee",
    "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/john-lee"
  },
  "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2025-hong-kong-convicts-jimmy-lai-under-national-security-law",
  "page_meta": {
    "published": "2026-09-22T20:42:18Z",
    "reviewed": "2026-09-22",
    "sources": 5,
    "status": "in_effect",
    "statusAsOf": "2026-09-22",
    "unknowns": "The sources cited do not state whether Lai has appealed (as of 2026-09-22)."
  },
  "actors": [
    {
      "slug": "hong-kong-department-of-justice",
      "name": "Hong Kong Department of Justice",
      "kind": "body",
      "role": "enforced",
      "role_at_time": null,
      "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/actors/hong-kong-department-of-justice"
    }
  ],
  "outlets": [
    {
      "slug": "apple-daily",
      "name": "Apple Daily",
      "relation": "affected",
      "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/outlets/apple-daily"
    },
    {
      "slug": "next-magazine",
      "name": "Next Magazine",
      "relation": "affected",
      "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/outlets/next-magazine"
    }
  ],
  "journalists": [
    {
      "slug": "jimmy-lai",
      "name": "Jimmy Lai",
      "outlet": "apple-daily",
      "relation": "affected",
      "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/journalists/jimmy-lai"
    }
  ],
  "cases": [],
  "related": [],
  "events": [],
  "claims": [
    {
      "id": 83,
      "subject_type": "incident",
      "subject_id": 22,
      "field": "stated_justification",
      "value": "Alleged collusion with foreign forces and seditious publication",
      "statement": "Prosecutors framed the charges as a national-security matter tied to Apple Daily's coverage.",
      "attribution": null,
      "source_id": 84,
      "evidence_quote": "The court ruled that Lai was the 'mastermind' of the alleged conspiracies in all three counts.",
      "evidence_date": "2025-12-15",
      "method": "outlet_report",
      "verified_at": "2026-09-22",
      "confidence": "medium",
      "status": "current",
      "supersedes_id": null,
      "superseded_by": null,
      "supersede_reason": null,
      "batch_label": "seed-2026-09-22",
      "created_at": "2026-09-22T20:42:15Z",
      "source": {
        "id": 84,
        "url": "https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/12/15/hong-kong-jimmy-lai-convicted-on-bogus-national-security-charges",
        "final_url": "https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/12/15/hong-kong-jimmy-lai-convicted-on-bogus-national-security-charges",
        "title": "Hong Kong: Jimmy Lai convicted on bogus national security charges",
        "publisher": "Human Rights Watch",
        "published_on": "2025-12-15",
        "link_state": "live",
        "link_state_since": "2026-09-22T12:00:00Z",
        "wayback_url": null,
        "wayback_saved_at": null
      },
      "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/claims/83"
    },
    {
      "id": 84,
      "subject_type": "incident",
      "subject_id": 22,
      "field": "effect_on_reporting",
      "value": "Apple Daily closed",
      "statement": "Apple Daily shut down in June 2021 after its accounts were frozen and its leadership arrested.",
      "attribution": null,
      "source_id": 68,
      "evidence_quote": "Apple Daily, says it is shutting down. Its accounts have been frozen and much of its top leadership has been arrested.",
      "evidence_date": "2026-05-03",
      "method": "outlet_report",
      "verified_at": "2026-09-22",
      "confidence": "medium",
      "status": "current",
      "supersedes_id": null,
      "superseded_by": null,
      "supersede_reason": null,
      "batch_label": "seed-2026-09-22",
      "created_at": "2026-09-22T20:42:16Z",
      "source": {
        "id": 68,
        "url": "https://hongkongfp.com/2026/05/03/explainer-the-decline-of-hong-kongs-press-freedom-under-the-national-security-law/",
        "final_url": "https://hongkongfp.com/2026/05/03/explainer-the-decline-of-hong-kongs-press-freedom-under-the-national-security-law/",
        "title": "Explainer: the decline of Hong Kong's press freedom under the National Security Law",
        "publisher": "Hong Kong Free Press",
        "published_on": "2026-05-03",
        "link_state": "live",
        "link_state_since": "2026-09-22T12:00:00Z",
        "wayback_url": null,
        "wayback_saved_at": null
      },
      "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/claims/84"
    },
    {
      "id": 85,
      "subject_type": "incident",
      "subject_id": 22,
      "field": "status",
      "value": "Sentenced to 20 years, 2026-02-08",
      "statement": "Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison and remains imprisoned.",
      "attribution": null,
      "source_id": 84,
      "evidence_quote": "The court ruled that Lai was the 'mastermind' of the alleged conspiracies in all three counts.",
      "evidence_date": "2025-12-15",
      "method": "outlet_report",
      "verified_at": "2026-09-22",
      "confidence": "medium",
      "status": "current",
      "supersedes_id": null,
      "superseded_by": null,
      "supersede_reason": null,
      "batch_label": "seed-2026-09-22",
      "created_at": "2026-09-22T20:42:16Z",
      "source": {
        "id": 84,
        "url": "https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/12/15/hong-kong-jimmy-lai-convicted-on-bogus-national-security-charges",
        "final_url": "https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/12/15/hong-kong-jimmy-lai-convicted-on-bogus-national-security-charges",
        "title": "Hong Kong: Jimmy Lai convicted on bogus national security charges",
        "publisher": "Human Rights Watch",
        "published_on": "2025-12-15",
        "link_state": "live",
        "link_state_since": "2026-09-22T12:00:00Z",
        "wayback_url": null,
        "wayback_saved_at": null
      },
      "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/claims/85"
    },
    {
      "id": 111,
      "subject_type": "incident",
      "subject_id": 22,
      "field": "occurred_on",
      "value": "2025-12-15",
      "statement": "Jimmy Lai was convicted on national-security and sedition charges.",
      "attribution": null,
      "source_id": 84,
      "evidence_quote": "On December 15, 2025, the High Court found Lai, 78, guilty of two counts of 'conspiracy to commit collusion with foreign forces' under the draconian National Security Law, and one count of 'conspiracy to publish seditious publications'",
      "evidence_date": "2025-12-15",
      "method": "outlet_report",
      "verified_at": "2026-09-22",
      "confidence": "medium",
      "status": "current",
      "supersedes_id": 82,
      "superseded_by": null,
      "supersede_reason": null,
      "batch_label": "corrections-2026-09-22",
      "created_at": "2026-09-22T22:15:40Z",
      "source": {
        "id": 84,
        "url": "https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/12/15/hong-kong-jimmy-lai-convicted-on-bogus-national-security-charges",
        "final_url": "https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/12/15/hong-kong-jimmy-lai-convicted-on-bogus-national-security-charges",
        "title": "Hong Kong: Jimmy Lai convicted on bogus national security charges",
        "publisher": "Human Rights Watch",
        "published_on": "2025-12-15",
        "link_state": "live",
        "link_state_since": "2026-09-22T12:00:00Z",
        "wayback_url": null,
        "wayback_saved_at": null
      },
      "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/claims/111"
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": 68,
      "url": "https://hongkongfp.com/2026/05/03/explainer-the-decline-of-hong-kongs-press-freedom-under-the-national-security-law/",
      "final_url": "https://hongkongfp.com/2026/05/03/explainer-the-decline-of-hong-kongs-press-freedom-under-the-national-security-law/",
      "title": "Explainer: the decline of Hong Kong's press freedom under the National Security Law",
      "publisher": "Hong Kong Free Press",
      "published_on": "2026-05-03",
      "link_state": "live",
      "link_state_since": "2026-09-22T12:00:00Z",
      "wayback_url": null,
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    },
    {
      "id": 69,
      "url": "https://freedomhouse.org/country/hong-kong/freedom-world/2026",
      "final_url": "https://freedomhouse.org/country/hong-kong/freedom-world/2026",
      "title": "Hong Kong: Freedom in the World 2026",
      "publisher": "Freedom House",
      "published_on": "2026",
      "link_state": "live",
      "link_state_since": "2026-09-22T12:00:00Z",
      "wayback_url": null,
      "wayback_saved_at": null
    },
    {
      "id": 70,
      "url": "https://www.state.gov/hong-kong-conditions-report-2026/",
      "final_url": "https://www.state.gov/hong-kong-conditions-report-2026/",
      "title": "Hong Kong Policy Act Report 2026",
      "publisher": "U.S. Department of State",
      "published_on": "2026",
      "link_state": "live",
      "link_state_since": "2026-09-22T12:00:00Z",
      "wayback_url": null,
      "wayback_saved_at": null
    },
    {
      "id": 84,
      "url": "https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/12/15/hong-kong-jimmy-lai-convicted-on-bogus-national-security-charges",
      "final_url": "https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/12/15/hong-kong-jimmy-lai-convicted-on-bogus-national-security-charges",
      "title": "Hong Kong: Jimmy Lai convicted on bogus national security charges",
      "publisher": "Human Rights Watch",
      "published_on": "2025-12-15",
      "link_state": "live",
      "link_state_since": "2026-09-22T12:00:00Z",
      "wayback_url": null,
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    },
    {
      "id": 85,
      "url": "https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/08/china/jimmy-lai-sentenced-20-years-intl-hnk",
      "final_url": "https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/08/china/jimmy-lai-sentenced-20-years-intl-hnk",
      "title": "Hong Kong's Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in prison",
      "publisher": "CNN",
      "published_on": "2026-02-08",
      "link_state": "live",
      "link_state_since": "2026-09-22T12:00:00Z",
      "wayback_url": null,
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    }
  ],
  "revisions_url": "https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2025-hong-kong-convicts-jimmy-lai-under-national-security-law/revisions",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"
  },
  "cite_as": "China (Hong Kong): conviction and 20-year sentence of the media owner Jimmy Lai under the National Security Law, 2025 to 2026. The War On News, thewaronnews.com. https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2025-hong-kong-convicts-jimmy-lai-under-national-security-law. Retrieved 2026-09-22."
}