Hong Kong pro-freedom campaigner and publishing magnate Jimmy Lai has been found guilty of colluding with external powers under the city's disputed national security law.
The 78-year-old, who has been in jail since late 2020, had entered a plea of not guilty. He faces life in prison and is expected to be sentenced in the coming months.
The tribunal found that Lai utilized his now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper as part of a broader effort to lobby foreign governments to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and China.
Hong Kong's chief executive welcomed the verdict, noting that Lai's actions "damaged the country's well-being and the welfare of Hong Kongers," while rights groups labeled it "a cruel judicial farce."
The Allegations and Court Case
There is "little question" that Jimmy Lai "held animosity" for the People's Republic of China, the judge said, citing his "constant appeal to the US to help bring down the government."
When Lai testified previously, he denied all accusations against him, saying he had "never" used his overseas connections to influence foreign policy on Hong Kong.
Lai, a UK citizen and one of the most vocal critics of the Chinese state, was a key figure in the pro-freedom demonstrations that engulfed Hong Kong in 2019.
The national security law was enacted in reaction and gave authorities extensive authority to charge and jail people they deemed a risk.
Monday's ruling also found Lai guilty of disseminating seditious material under a separate pre-existing statute.
International Reaction and Judicial Concerns
"His spirit is okay," his legal counsel said after the verdict. "The ruling is so long that we'll need some time to review it first."
"Authorities targeted Jimmy Lai with the goal of silencing all those who dare to censure the CCP," said a rights organization's regional head.
Foreign administrations, including the UK and US, have for years demanded Lai's freedom, which Chinese authorities and Hong Kong have dismissed.
A Test of Judicial Independence
Lai's trial was widely seen as a challenge of judicial independence for Hong Kong's legal system, which have been alleged of following Beijing's line.
Critics highlight the hundreds of protesters jailed under the NSL - and its extremely high conviction rate.
Bail is also often refused in NSL cases, notwithstanding concerns about failing well-being raised by Lai's family and advocates.
The Hong Kong government has also been criticised for preventing overseas counsel from working on NSL cases without prior permission.
From Tycoon to Campaigner
Lai, who escaped to Hong Kong as a youth, got his footing as a businessman after founding an international clothing brand.
His journey as a democracy activist began after the 1989 Tiananmen protests in Beijing.
He started authoring commentaries and went on to launch a series of widely-read pro-democracy publications.
Even now, many Hong Kongers see him as a prominent figure for democracy, with many lining up to enter the court ahead of the decision.
In his testimony, Lai had said he "did not permit" his newspaper's staff to promote Hong Kong independence, which he described as a "conspiracy" and "unthinkable to think about."
"The fundamental principles of Apple Daily are actually the fundamental principles of the people of Hong Kong," he had said, including the "rule of law, freedom, quest for self-governance, freedom of speech."
