The West Kowloon Court on Monday sentenced Jimmy Lai Chee-ying to 20 years in prison — the heaviest penalty ever imposed under Hong Kong SAR National Security Law. The sentence was handed down by three designated High Court judges in an hour-long hearing, and brought to a close the most consequential national security case since the law’s enactment in 2020. It is a verdict that affirms, with unmistakable clarity, that no individual, regardless of status or background, stands above the law.

The facts of the case are neither ambiguous nor in dispute. Lai, the 78-year-old founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily, was convicted in December 2025 of two counts of conspiring to collude with foreign forces and one count of conspiracy to publish seditious materials. The three judges delivered an 856-page verdict after a trial lasting 156 days— a process that was exhaustive, transparent, and firmly grounded in evidentiary reasoning. The evidence presented in open court painted a clear picture: Lai leveraged his media empire and international political connections — from former US officials to British advocacy groups — to actively lobby foreign governments for sanctions against China, while simultaneously using the media platform to incite public disorder and undermine governmental authority. The 20-year sentence reflects the gravity of these offenses and the court’s determination to uphold the rule of law.

The author is the convenor at China Retold, a member of the Legislative Council, and a member of the Central Committee of the New People’s Party.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.