Jimmy Lai, a once mighty media mogul and prominent pro-democracy activist, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison in Hong Kong for national security offences. The movement was crushed in June 2020 by the imposition of a harsh national security law which criminalised most forms of dissent. Hong Kong authorities say Lai has received appropriate medical care and that he requested to be kept separate from other prisoners. Lai’s trial was presided over by three judges handpicked by the government to hear national security cases. Lai said he never called for sanctions after the national security law had taken effect, as “it would be suicidal to do so”.

Source: The Guardian February 09, 2026 01:12 UTC