A Hong Kong court sentenced 78-year-old media tycoon and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison for national security offences, in the harshest sentence handed down so far under the national security law. The ruling has quickly triggered a diplomatic row between China and Western governments.
Lai, the founder of the now-defunct newspaper Apple Daily, was found guilty of colluding with foreign forces and of publishing seditious materials. The court imposed a combined sentence of 20 years, meaning that – barring any reduction – he would be eligible for release no earlier than 2044, at the age of 96.
In the same case, six former senior executives of Apple Daily were also convicted, receiving prison terms ranging from six years and nine months to ten years. Two activists were sentenced to more than seven years each.
EU: a political trial and a blow to press freedom
The verdict drew sharp criticism from the European Union. In a statement, the European External Action Service said Lai’s case amounted to a politically motivated prosecution.
“The EU calls on the Hong Kong authorities to restore confidence in press freedom in Hong Kong, one of the pillars of its historic success as an international financial centre, and to stop prosecuting journalists,” the statement said.
Concerns were also voiced by the United Kingdom, Australia and Japan, while UN representatives called on the authorities to take humanitarian considerations into account.
Beijing: verdict ‘beyond reproach’, criticism is interference
China rejected the criticism from Western countries. Foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said comments from the US, the EU and others amounted to interference in China’s internal affairs and violated the principle of sovereignty.
“Lai Chee-ying is the principal mastermind and perpetrator behind the series of riots that shook Hong Kong. The facts concerning his crimes of endangering national security are clear and the evidence is solid,” the foreign ministry said.
Chinese authorities insisted that Hong Kong’s judicial bodies acted in accordance with the law and that the ruling is justified and beyond reproach. The ministry added that the central government firmly supports Hong Kong authorities in safeguarding national security and punishing related crimes.
Beijing stressed that the case is purely an internal matter, arguing that enforcement of the national security law is essential for stability, the rule of law and the continued implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle.