Hong Kong — A landmark legal decision is expected on Monday, February 9, 2026, when a Hong Kong court pronounces a sentence for Jimmy Lai, the 78-year-old pro-democracy media entrepreneur convicted under the city’s sweeping national security legislation. The outcome will cap off years of legal battles and has ignited sharp debate internationally about free speech and the rule of law.
Former Media Chief Faces Possible Life Term
Jimmy Lai, famed as the founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, was found guilty in December 2025 of multiple offences linked to Hong Kong’s national security law, including collusion with foreign forces and publishing seditious material. The long-running trial, which began in late 2023 and spanned over 150 days, concluded with Lai maintaining his innocence and pleading not guilty throughout the proceedings.
The charges stem from accusations that Lai and others at Apple Daily used the paper to encourage foreign pressure on Hong Kong and Chinese authorities between 2019 and 2021 — allegations that include soliciting sanctions or hostile actions.
International Reactions and Rights Concerns
The sentencing has attracted strong international scrutiny. Several Western governments, including officials from the United States and Britain, have expressed concern that the case signals a tightening clampdown on dissent and press freedom in Hong Kong. Rights groups and foreign leaders have called on Beijing and Hong Kong authorities to reconsider the conviction, framing the outcome as emblematic of broader shifts in the city’s civic landscape.
Hong Kong and Chinese officials, for their part, assert that judicial procedures have been properly followed and that the case is rooted in legal accountability rather than political suppression.
What Happens Next
The judiciary set the sentencing hearing for 10 a.m. on Feb. 9, allotting a dedicated session to determine Lai’s punishment after he and co-defendants addressed mitigation arguments earlier in the year. Lai, who has been in custody since 2020, could face a life sentence under the charges he’s convicted of, a conclusion that would mark a pivotal moment in Hong Kong’s legal and political environment.
