Jimmy Lai is charged under the National Security Law with conspiracy to publish seditious publications and conspiracy to collude with foreign forces, with the verdict delivered at 10:00 a.m. on Monday (the 15th). A prison van arrived at the West Kowloon Courts Building as early as 8:00 a.m., with the Counter Terrorism Response Unit and a large number of police officers on standby. More than a hundred people queued outside the court to attend the hearing. Before 10:00 a.m., Lai’s family members and members of the public who had been lining up had all entered the courtroom to wait.
At around 5:00 p.m. on Sunday (the 14th), more than 70 people were already queuing outside the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts. Some people in the queue said that at around 10:30 a.m. on Sunday they saw about 40 people arrive at the same time, some of whom appeared unfamiliar and had not been seen at previous hearings. When reporters approached to ask, most people refused to respond. One Mandarin-speaking woman, when asked whose case she was attending, said: “Jimmy Lai. I just want to come and see how Jimmy Lai ends up.”

The Judiciary had earlier announced that the main courtroom, together with seven overflow courtrooms, provided a total of 507 public seats, including 58 seats in the main courtroom, as well as 116 seats reserved for the media.
Jimmy Lai has been remanded in custody since December 2020 and has now been detained for more than 1,800 days. Over the course of the 156-day trial, The Witness compiled summaries of the prosecution’s three consecutive days of opening statements, the key testimony of six prosecution witnesses, and highlights from Jimmy Lai’s 52 days of testimony. It also set out the main arguments in the closing submissions of both the prosecution and the defense, to help readers better understand the key issues in the case.

10:44 a.m. — Court adjourned

Lai waved goodbye to his family. His wife smiled in response.

10:42 a.m. — Mitigation submissions set for January 12; four days reserved

The judge said that all defendants involved in the case will make mitigation submissions together. Written submissions must be filed by 4:00 p.m. on January 2, 2026. Oral mitigation submissions will be heard on January 12, with four days reserved. The sentencing date will be fixed later.

10:38 a.m. — Jimmy Lai convicted on all three charges

The judges said the court accepts that Lai was the mastermind behind the alleged conspiracies and, in carrying them out, made use of various Apple Daily platforms with the company’s consent. The court found Lai guilty on all three charges, namely one count of conspiracy to publish seditious publications, and two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces.

The two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces respectively involved Apple Daily and the Fight For Freedom. Stand With Hong Kong team, while the conspiracy to publish seditious publications involved Apple Daily. The companies concerned were likewise found guilty.

Lai wore headphones and appeared calm upon hearing the verdict, occasionally looking toward the judges and his family.

10:37 a.m. — Judge: Before and after the National Security Law, Lai’s sole intent was to seek the collapse of the Chinese Communist Party

The court said it must also be pointed out that when Chan Tsz-wah sent Lai a link to a statement—at a time when it was apparent that the National People’s Congress intended to enact the National Security Law—Lai said on May 28, 2020 that he “hoped Trump would take even harsher measures over the coming weekend,” and that his attitude at the time was one of happiness.

The court found that Lai never abandoned his intention to undermine the stability of the Chinese Communist Party regime. After the National Security Law came into force, he expressed this intention in more covert ways, as shown through Live Chat, Twitter, and Fox News.

Cheung Kim-hung said that when he visited Lai during Lai’s remand in custody, Lai told him to “continue running Apple Daily as usual.”

The evidence shows that, both before and after the National Security Law came into effect, Lai’s sole intention was to seek the downfall of the Chinese Communist Party, even if it ultimately meant sacrificing Hong Kong’s interests. The defendant had the intention to carry out the conspiracies charged.

10:32 a.m. — Judge: Mark Simon had connections and could arrange for U.S. lawmakers to meet Lai in Hong Kong

It is noteworthy that Jimmy Lai believed Mark Simon possessed extensive connections and influence, as seen from Simon’s arrangements during Lai’s trips to the United States in July and October 2019. It was also through Simon that U.S. senators Rick Scott and Ted Cruz were arranged to visit Hong Kong to meet Lai.

Another indication of Lai’s connections and influence in Washington is that he was able to obtain a draft of Mike Pompeo’s speech at the Nixon Library.

The court also needed to point out that after Lai met Finn Lau and Chan Tsz-wah in Taipei, Lau and Chan held a video meeting with Andy Li, relaying the key points of the meeting to him. From Andy Li’s testimony, it was confirmed that Lai was aware of the purpose behind the establishment of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC). Lai received IPAC activity information from IPAC co-founder Luke De Pulford. As Apple Daily carried extensive coverage of Finn Lau joining IPAC, it shows that Lai was aware of this.

Chan Tsz-wah mentioned that Lai’s arrest dealt a major blow to the international outreach of the Fight For Freedom. Stand With Hong Kong team, as obtaining further information from the United States would become extremely difficult.

10:31 a.m. — Judge: Lai concealed from the court that his U.S. trip was to meet officials when applying for bail

Esther Toh Lye-ping further said that when Jimmy Lai left Hong Kong during his bail application in June 2020, he concealed from the court that one of the purposes of his trip to the United States was to meet U.S. officials. Before making the application to the court, Lai had also published an article in The New York Times, stating that the time had come for the United States to impose sanctions on and punish China.

10:24 a.m. — Judge: Mark Simon arranged meetings for Lai with Pelosi and Trump

Esther Toh Lye-ping further said that, according to messages Mark Simon sent to Jimmy Lai, Simon attempted to arrange meetings for Lai with then U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and then U.S. President Donald Trump. There is no doubt, the judge said, that Mark—the “mysterious figure”—acted as an intermediary between Lai and U.S. officials, enabling Lai to lobby the U.S. government and seek its support.

The judge also said that in November 2019, regarding the U.S. Congress’s Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, Lai told Apple Daily’s animation news platform director Cheung Chi-wai: “Very good, now everyone can breathe a sigh of relief.” In another group chat that included Martin Lee, Lai said: “Trump knows that in the U.S.–China negotiations, Hong Kong is a powerful bargaining chip.”

Senior Apple Daily executives Cheung Kim-hung and Chan Pui-man testified that in May 2020, when the National Security Law was about to be implemented in Hong Kong, Lai initiated a “one Hongkonger, one letter” campaign. Cheung said that Lai had mentioned hoping that the U.S. president and vice president would impose sanctions on China as a result.

10:19 a.m. — Judge: Lai met Pence and Pompeo, proposing sanctions against Hong Kong

Esther Toh Lye-ping said that messages Jimmy Lai received from his aide Mark Simon show that Mark was working behind the scenes to arrange meetings between Lai and U.S. government officials in Washington.

For example, on June 28, 2019, Mark informed Lai by message: “We have two meetings set up at the White House. Bolton has confirmed. You will see the email sent by Bolton’s assistant.”

Ultimately, in July that year, Lai met then U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington, proposing sanctions, blockades, and hostile actions against Hong Kong in relation to the Hong Kong government’s push for amendments to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance.

10:15 a.m. — Judge Esther Toh Lye-ping: Lai’s testimony was inconsistent

Esther Toh Lye-ping said that Jimmy Lai’s testimony was inconsistent, and the evidence clearly shows that he conspired with Apple Daily senior management and the company. The court also accepted the evidence in the case, finding that Lai requested foreign sanctions together with accomplice witnesses Andy Li and Chan Tsz-wah.

She added that when assessing and analyzing accomplices, the court understands that they may have motives to lie in order to obtain sentence reductions, and therefore considers whether there is documentary support for their testimony. The analysis set out above shows that there was sufficient evidence in the case to support their testimony, and the prosecution witnesses were not shaken under cross-examination.

10:12 a.m. — Judge: Lai has harbored deep resentment toward China for many years

The judge said the evidence is supported by WhatsApp messages, most of which were sent by D1 (that is, Jimmy Lai). The evidence shows that before the implementation of the National Security Law, discussions took place about what leverage the United States could use against China, including engaging Jack and Paul (former U.S. Army Vice Chief of Staff Jack Keane and former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz), as well as introducing Lai to Antonio Chang, an aide to former Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen.
The judge further said that Lai has harbored deep resentment toward China for many years, as reflected in the “Success and Failure with a Smile” column articles, live chats, and appearances on FOX News.

10:09 a.m. — Judge says the reasons for verdict run to 855 pages and will not be read in full

Judge Esther Toh Lye-ping said that if any disturbance occurs in the courtroom, the individuals concerned will be required to watch the live broadcast outside the court. She reminded those present to observe courtroom decorum. The judge said the written reasons for verdict total 855 pages and will not be read in full; the reading would begin from paragraph 849.

10:02 a.m. — Court in session

09:59 a.m. — Jimmy Lai enters the courtroom, greets family with a smile

Accompanied by correctional officers, Jimmy Lai entered the dock, where seven correctional officers were present. Lai appeared slim but in good spirits, wearing glasses, a white shirt, a green sweater, and a gray suit jacket. He smiled broadly and waved to his family, who waved back in response.

09:46 a.m. — Lai’s family members and the media gradually enter the courtroom

Jimmy Lai’s wife, his son Lai Yiu-yan, Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, Bishop Emeritus of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong, as well as members of the media and the public, entered the main courtroom. Steve Lee Kwai-wah, Chief Superintendent of the National Security Department of the police, was also present.

09:05 a.m. — Lai’s wife, son, and Cardinal Joseph Zen arrive at court

All members of the public who had been queuing to attend the hearing had also entered the West Kowloon Courts Building.

The Witness