Leading Hong Kong community, legal and business figures have urged the city's High Court to impose severe penalties on former media mogul Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and eight co-defendants, who are set to receive their sentences today as the city's first trial for the offense of colluding with foreign forces under the National Security Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (NSL) concludes.

They said a severe deterrent sentence would uphold the NSL and safeguard the city’s rule of law and stability.

Lai was found guilty of violating the NSL on Dec 15 last year on two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one of conspiracy to publish seditious materials.

He faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

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Michael Li Chi-fung, vice-honorary secretary of the Hong Kong Chinese Importers’ and Exporters’ Association, emphasized the importance of national security, said Lai’s conviction in accordance with the law is an important manifestation of safeguarding national security, implementing the NSL, and upholding the rule of law in Hong Kong.

Kenlay Wong Kong-hui, chairman of Hong Kong’s century-old trading group, the Nam Pak Hong Association, called Lai a “mastermind” of subversion and an agent for anti-China forces who used his now-defunct newspaper, Apple Daily, to collude with foreign forces andincite unrest.

He said Lai “must bear legal responsibility for his actions and be penalized according to the law” as he seriously violated the NSL and caused significant harm to national security.

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Liu Aili, a standing committee member of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and an Election Committee member of the HKSAR, criticized Lai as the “major planner and participant in a series of incidents aimed at destabilizing the HKSAR and opposing China”, adding that his egregious and harmful actions “must be severely punished according to the law”.

Liu said safeguarding national security is Hong Kong's constitutional duty, and that Lai's conviction reflects both a key measure to uphold national security and the spirit of Hong Kong's rule of law.

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Lawmakers and legal groups also concurred on the necessity of lawful punishment.

Lawmaker Dominic Lee Tsz-king said Lai has long been a driving force behind illegal movements, endangering national security by colluding with foreign forces and calling for sanctions, and must face legal consequences.

Michael Lee Chun-keung, vice-chairman of the Liberal Party, said Lai’s conviction is beyond doubt and that His long record of offenses has caused profound harm to national security, requiring a just penalty in accordance with the law.”

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Solicitor Jimmy Ng Wing-ka criticized Lai for abusing media power to destabilize Hong Kong and undermine its legal order, urging the court to punish him severely to send a clear deterrent message.

Legislator and solicitor Holden Chow Ho-ding said Lai used Apple Daily to incite hatred for the nation and widen rifts between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong. He also criticized some Western voices for whitewashing Lai's acts and ignoring the importance of protecting security and stability.

Lawmaker Nixie Lam Lam said the sentencing will reaffirm Hong Kong's commitment to safeguarding national security and the rule of law, serving as a warning to anyone who threatens the SAR's stability.

Legislator and solicitor Maggie Chan Man-ki said the lengthy open trial confirmed the substantial evidence behind the verdict, while Kingsley Wong Kwok, chair of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, added that only with national security firmly protected can Hong Kong remain secure and prosperous, safeguarding the interests of all residents and investors. 

The Liberal Party, along with several other groups, including the Hong Kong Legal Professionals Association and the Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong, has voiced unequivocal support for the judiciary to sentence offenders in strict accordance with the law.