Court declines to reduce sentence over Lai’s health concerns
The court said it was “not inclined” to impose a lighter sentence on Jimmy Lai on medical grounds, noting that health considerations rarely justify leniency in serious cases.
“We note that the general rule is that medical grounds will seldom, if ever, be a basis for reducing the sentence for crimes of gravity,” it said in the ruling.
Lai’s barrister had told the court that he suffers from hypertension, diabetes and other health conditions.
Shweta Sharma9 February 2026 02:58
‘Effectively a death sentence’ for Lai, Human Rights Watch says
Human Rights Watch condemned the 20-year prison sentence handed to Jimmy Lai, describing it as “effectively a death sentence.”
Lai will be 98 by the time he has served the full sentence handed down on Monday morning.
Elaine Pearson, the organisation’s Asia director, said the punishment was “both cruel and profoundly unjust.”
“The harsh 20-year sentence against 78-year-old Jimmy Lai is effectively a death sentence. A sentence of this magnitude is both cruel and profoundly unjust. Lai’s years of persecution show the Chinese government’s determination to crush independent journalism and silence anyone who dares to criticize the Communist Party.”
Shweta Sharma9 February 2026 02:52
Picture shows Lai’s wife leaving the court
Pictures have now emerged of Teresa Lai, the wife of convicted pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai, and Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, the retired Catholic bishop, leaving the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on Monday following Lai’s sentencing.
She appeared emotional and was holding back tears as she left.
The hearing lasted just 30 minutes on Monday morning.
Teresa Lai (R), wife of convicted pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai and Joseph Zen (front C), retired cardinal of the Catholic Church, leave the West Kowloon Magistrates Court following Jimmy Lai’s sentencing in Hong Kong (AFP via Getty Images)
Shweta Sharma9 February 2026 02:47
Reporters Without Borders: ‘Today the curtain falls on press freedom in Hong Kong’
Reporters Without Borders has condemned Jimmy Lai’s sentencing, saying the decision underscores the complete collapse of press freedom in Hong Kong and the authorities’ profound contempt for independent journalism.
“From Lai’s arrest to his trial and conviction, this legal process has been nothing more than a sham. Democracies, such as the UK and the US, must stop prioritising the normalisation of relations with China and instead exert pressure on the Chinese regime and Hong Kong authorities to ensure that Jimmy Lai and all other journalists are released from prison,” Thibaut Bruttin, the nonprofit organization’s head, said.
Referring to Liu Xiaobo, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and political prisoner who died in custody in 2017 after being detained in 2009 on charges of “inciting subversion of state power,” Bruttin said the outcome reflected a lack of sufficient international pressure.
“We cannot allow Jimmy Lai to suffer a similar fate. His sentence must not become a death sentence.”
Shweta Sharma9 February 2026 02:39
Jimmy Lai’s lawyer declines to comment on possible appeal
Jimmy Lai’s defence lawyer declined to say whether an appeal would be filed, responding “no comment” when asked by reporters outside the court following the sentencing.
Shweta Sharma9 February 2026 02:34
Judges say Lai’s offences were of ‘grave nature’
The Hong Kong court on Monday said Jimmy Lai’s offences were of a “grave nature” and the conspiracies were of the “most serious” category.
The judge said the sentencing was enhanced bythe fact that he was the “mastermind” and driving force behind foreign collusion conspiracies.
The court said the foreign collusion conspiracies were “well planned” and “premeditated”.
Shweta Sharma9 February 2026 02:33
Six other defendants handed lower sentences
Six former Apple Daily executives were also sentenced by the court.
Publisher Cheung Kim-hung was given six years and nine months in prison, while associate publisher Chan Pui-man received a seven-year term.
Editorial writer Yeung Ching-kee was sentenced to seven years and three months.
Editor-in-chief Lai Wai-kwong, executive editor-in-chief Lam Man-chung and editorial writer Fung Wai-kong were each handed 10-year jail terms.
Shweta Sharma9 February 2026 02:28
Lai’s wife leaves court
Jimmy Lai’s wife was seen leaving the court shortly afterwards, wearing dark sunglasses and appearing to struggle to hold back tears as she made her way out of the building.
Shweta Sharma9 February 2026 02:21
Jimmy Lai receives longest national security sentence in Hong Kong history
The sentence marks the harshest punishment imposed under Hong Kong’s national security law to date. Until now, the longest term handed down was 10 years’ imprisonment, imposed on legal scholar and opposition strategist Benny Tai in 2024.
In mainland China, the prominent dissident Liu Xiaobo was sentenced to 11 years in 2009 for inciting subversion.
Shweta Sharma9 February 2026 02:18
Comment: My message to Keir Starmer: Free my father Jimmy Lai before it is too late
Nicole Wootton-Cane9 February 2026 02:15
