Hong Kong’s largest political party has voiced its strong support for the 20‑year prison sentence handed down on Monday to Jimmy Lai Chee‑ying, founder of the now‑defunct Apple Daily, for violating the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region National Security Law.

The sentence was delivered on Monday morning by three national security judges — Esther Toh Lye-ping, D’Almada Remedios, and Alex Lee Wan-tang. This follows Lai's conviction in December on two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of conspiracy to publish seditious materials. As Lai is already serving a five-year, nine-month sentence for a separate fraud conviction in December 2022, the court ordered that 18 years of the total 20-year prison term must be served consecutively with his existing prison term; he will therefore serve 18 years in prison from the start of today’s sentencing, after taking into consideration time already served.

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Following the High Court's ruling, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) expressed its strong support for the decision, calling it a “just action to safeguard national security”. The alliance stated that the verdict not only upholds national security and reinforces the foundations of the rule of law in Hong Kong, but will also ensure the city's long-term stability and prosperity.

The party stated that the NSL expressly stipulates that human rights must be respected and protected, including fundamental rights such as freedom of speech and assembly. However, it added that freedom of speech is not absolute or unrestricted. Substantial evidence has proved that Lai's acts were not the exercise of press or speech freedom, as portrayed by some Western critics, but were aimed at subverting State power and undermining the nation's fundamental systems.

The party said that high-level national security is not only the cornerstone of high-quality development but also fundamental to ensuring the well-being of residents. Citing data, it added that with the protection of the NSL, Hong Kong’s economy has been steadily recovering in recent years, with its gross domestic product growth reaching 3.5 percent in 2025 and attracting substantial foreign investment. This demonstrates, said the party, that the implementation of the National Security Law has effectively restored social order, allowing Hong Kong to focus on economic and social development.

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The party also added that the transparency and openness of the trial demonstrate that the court's judgment and sentencing were based solely on facts, with the entire process strictly adhering to the Basic Law and international human rights standards. Both parties were able to present evidence and testimony, ensuring the defendant's right to a fair trial and fully reflecting the spirit of the rule of law in Hong Kong.