Hong Kong pro-freedom campaigner and media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been convicted of conspiring with external powers under the city's controversial national security law.
The 78-year-old, who has been in jail since December 2020, had pleaded not guilty. He could receive life in prison and is expected to be handed a sentence early next year.
The court found that Lai utilized his now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper as part of a wider effort to lobby overseas administrations to impose restrictive measures on Hong Kong and China.
Hong Kong's chief executive applauded the ruling, stating that Lai's actions "damaged the nation's interests and the welfare of Hong Kongers," while human rights organizations 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, referencing his "constant invitation to the US to help overthrow the government."
When Lai gave evidence earlier, he denied all accusations against him, asserting he had "not once" used his overseas connections to sway foreign policy on Hong Kong.
Lai, a British national and one of the fiercest detractors of the Chinese state, was a key figure in the pro-democracy protests that swept through Hong Kong in 2019.
The NSL was enacted in response and gave authorities extensive authority to charge and imprison people they considered a risk.
Monday's ruling also found Lai guilty of disseminating seditious material under a different colonial-era law.
Global Response and Judicial Concerns
"Mr Lai's spirit is okay," his legal counsel said after the judgment. "The ruling is so long that we'll need some time to study it first."
"The Chinese government abused Jimmy Lai with the aim of silencing all those who dare to censure the CCP," said a human rights organization's Asia Director.
Foreign administrations, including the UK and US, have for years demanded Lai's freedom, which Beijing and Hong Kong have rejected.
An Examination of Legal Autonomy
Lai's trial was largely viewed as a test of court autonomy for Hong Kong's legal system, which have been accused of following Beijing's line.
Critics point to the hundreds of protesters jailed under the NSL - and its nearly 100% conviction rate.
Bail is also often refused in NSL cases, notwithstanding concerns about failing well-being raised by Lai's relatives and advocates.
The Hong Kong government has also been criticised for barring foreign lawyers from working on NSL cases without special approval.
From Businessman to Activist
Lai, who escaped to Hong Kong as a teenager, got his footing as a businessman after creating an global apparel company.
His path as a democracy activist started after the 1989 Tiananmen protests in Beijing.
He started authoring commentaries and went on to launch a series of popular pro-democracy publications.
Even now, many Hong Kongers see him as a leading voice for democracy, with dozens queuing to enter the court ahead of the decision.
In his court statements, Lai had said he "did not permit" his newspaper's staff to advocate for Hong Kong independence, which he described as a "plot" and "too crazy to think about."
"The core values of Apple Daily are actually the fundamental principles of the people of Hong Kong," he had said, listing the "rule of law, freedom, pursuit of democracy, free expression."
