Hong Kong pro-democracy campaigner and media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been found guilty of colluding with foreign forces under the city's controversial national security law (NSL).
The 78-year-old UK citizen, who has been in jail since December 2020, pleaded not guilty. He faces life in prison and is expected to be sentenced early next year.
Lai used his now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper as part of a wider effort to lobby foreign governments to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and China, the court found.
Hong Kong chief executive John Lee welcomed the verdict, noting that Lai's actions damaged the country's interests and the welfare of Hong Kongers. Rights groups called it a cruel judicial farce.
They say the NSL, which Beijing defends as essential for the city's stability, has been used to crush dissent.
Delivering the verdict on Monday, Judge Esther Toh said there is no doubt that Jimmy Lai harboured hatred for the People's Republic of China (PRC), citing his constant invitation to the US to help bring down the government of the PRC with the excuse of helping the people of Hong Kong.
When Lai testified in November, he denied all the charges against him, saying he had never used his foreign contacts to influence foreign policy on Hong Kong.
His trial is seen by many as a test of judicial independence for Hong Kong's courts, which have been accused of aligning with Beijing’s interests.
Lai joins numerous other pro-democracy activists who face incarceration under the NSL, emphasizing the changing landscape of political dissent in Hong Kong.
Internationally, reactions have been swift, with calls for his release becoming louder amidst accusations of politically motivated persecution by the Chinese government. The UK condemned the decision and urged an end to the prosecution under the NSL.
As the landscape of Hong Kong’s democracy continues to face challenges, Lai's conviction underscores the ongoing struggles and the tensions surrounding sovereignty and individual rights in the region.
