Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai is facing charges including “conspiracy to collude with foreign forces.” The trial has been ongoing for more than a year and a half since it began in late 2023. Both the prosecution and defense have finished calling all witnesses, and Lai concluded his 52 days of testimony in March this year. After a recess of about five months, the trial will resume on Thursday (14th) at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts (acting as the High Court) for its 147th day, when both sides are expected to deliver their closing arguments.

According to the Judiciary, the main courtroom will have 70 public seats, with three additional overflow courtrooms, bringing the total number of public seats to 311. Queue tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, with one ticket per person.

Trial Began in 2023 – Lai Testified for 52 Days

The case began on December 18, 2023. On the 90th day of the trial, June 11, 2024, the prosecution completed its presentation of evidence—exceeding the originally scheduled 80 trial days. On July 25, the three judges ruled that the case had a prima facie basis, adjourning proceedings to November 20, when Jimmy Lai took the stand. He completed his 52 days of testimony on March 6, 2025.

The Witness had earlier compiled summaries of the prosecution’s three-day opening statement, key testimony from six prosecution witnesses, and highlights from Lai’s 52 days of testimony—divided into the Apple Daily editorial and reporting segment, the international connections segment, and court notes—for readers to revisit the trial’s key points.

The case is being heard by High Court-designated National Security Law judges Esther Toh Lye-ping, Susana Maria D’Almada Remedios, and Alex Lee Wan-tang. The prosecution is represented by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Anthony Chau Tin-hang and Senior Public Prosecutor Crystal Chan Wing-sum. Lai is represented by Senior Counsel Robert Pang Yiu-hung, barrister Steven Kwan Man-wai, and New Zealand King’s Counsel Marc Corlett, who is qualified to practice in Hong Kong.

Jimmy Lai Faces Three Counts of Collusion with Foreign Forces

The defendants are Jimmy Lai (76), Apple Daily Limited, Apple Daily Printing Limited, and Apple Daily Internet Limited. They are jointly charged with one count of “conspiracy to publish seditious publications,” alleging that between April 1, 2019, and June 24, 2021, in Hong Kong, they conspired with Cheung Kim-hung, Chan Pui-man, Ryan Law Wai-kwong, Lam Man-chung, Fung Wai-kong, Yeung Ching-kee, and others to print, publish, sell, offer for sale, distribute, display, and/or reproduce seditious publications.

They are also jointly charged with one count of “conspiracy to collude with foreign forces,” alleging that between July 1, 2020, and June 24, 2021, in Hong Kong, they conspired to request foreign or overseas institutions, organizations, or individuals to impose sanctions, blockade, or take other hostile actions against the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or the People’s Republic of China. Apart from Jimmy Lai, the other six former senior executives earlier pleaded guilty in the High Court; the “conspiracy to publish seditious publications” charge against them was placed on court file.

Jimmy Lai faces a further separate count of “conspiracy to collude with foreign forces,” alleging that between July 1, 2020, and February 15, 2021, in Hong Kong, he conspired with Chan Tsz-wah, Mark Herman Simon, Andy Li, Finn Lau, and others to request foreign or overseas institutions, organizations, or individuals to impose sanctions, blockade, or take other hostile actions against the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or the People’s Republic of China.