Jimmy Lai, the founder of Next Digital, has been convicted on all three counts of violating Hong Kong's National Security Law. The court found that Lai exploited social unrest and public disorder to incite citizens to confront the government. During his own defense, Lai admitted he pushed young people into the streets simply to create optics—a "visual" showing that people of different ages opposed the government. Li Kwai-wah, Chief Superintendent of the National Security Department, called Lai out directly: to him, young people were just tools to accomplish his political tasks. Despicable doesn't begin to cover it.
The court identified Lai as the mastermind behind three conspiracy charges and concluded that his sole objective—both before and after the National Security Law took effect—was to bring down the Chinese Communist Party.
The Timeline: From Legal Reform to Sedition
The verdict lays out the background: In February 2019, the HKSAR government proposed amendments to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance to address legal gaps in handling cross-jurisdictional cases. From that point on, Lai weaponized Apple Daily to push citizens into the streets to protest the draft amendments.
What started as demonstrations escalated into resistance. Lai seized on the social chaos and breakdown in public order, turning Apple Daily into a platform for seditious articles designed to provoke hatred and confrontation against the Central Government and the HKSAR government.
Speaking to reporters, Li Kwai-wah stressed what everyone should focus on: Jimmy Lai's role in the "Black Riots" events. For Lai, young people were nothing more than tools to help him achieve his political goals. That's what makes this so heinous.
Lai's Own Words: Students Were Just "Visuals"
During his defense, Lai personally admitted that on June 8, 2019, in a WhatsApp group created by Lee Cheuk-yan to mobilize participation in that year's "June 9 March," he forwarded a message suggested by Martin Lee. The message called for more young people to take to the streets and join the march—specifically to use the visuals of the march to highlight that people of different age groups were dissatisfied with the government. Lai also admitted in court that he had instructed staff to interview petitioning students to inspire other students to join the marches.
Trial evidence showed that the "Video Talk" and "Support Students Subscription Plan" promoted by Apple Daily during the protests—under Lai's direction—were deliberately targeted at young people to incite them to participate in anti-government movements.
Li Kwai-wah slammed Lai for treating "students and young people" as nothing more than a "visual" to achieve political ends. But strategically inciting young people to engage in anti-government activities led to many of them ending up in prison with their futures destroyed, causing immense heartbreak for their parents.
Lai was the driving force behind the entire chaos and cannot escape responsibility. His crimes are too numerous to list, and the evidence is ironclad.
The Double Standard Lai Won't Address
Leung Chun-ying, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), put it bluntly on social media: Jimmy Lai has harmed an entire generation of Hong Kong teenagers. "For this alone, what sentence could possibly be too severe?"
Leung said he has read almost all of Jimmy Lai's signed articles in Apple Daily and his interviews with foreign media, and has consistently rebutted them publicly. He pointed out that Lai seriously misjudged both the domestic and international situation—grossly overestimating his leverage—thinking that lip service support from the US and Western countries meant he could act with impunity.
Leung argued that during the trial, Lai first made strategic errors, then was riddled with mistakes and contradictions during cross-examination. "If he really is a 'political prisoner' as some Westerners claim, why not just keep pretending to be a hero? Why push the blame for Apple Daily's sedition onto his subordinates? Why argue that he 'did not interfere with editorial decisions'? Why say 'instructions regarding part of the editorial content were issued before the National Security Law took effect, and afterwards content had to avoid illegality while walking a fine line'? Why say 'columns only listed facts or analysis and speculation'?" Leung noted that only a political coward would defend himself in this manner.
Leung also noted that Lai claimed to be a British citizen, yet the UK, the US, and other Western countries would absolutely not allow their own citizens to collude with foreign forces. Leung emphasized that Lai was the flag-bearer, the brains, the treasurer, and the mouthpiece who charged forward blindly, harming an entire generation of Hong Kong teenagers. For this point alone, no sentence could possibly be too severe!
Leung also posted in English, stating that Jimmy Lai is neither a democrat nor a freedom fighter as depicted by certain Western media and politicians. For years, Lai attempted to convert the high degree of autonomy Hong Kong enjoys under the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law into de facto independence for Hong Kong, thereby undermining the nation's sovereignty over Hong Kong. He was even audacious enough to plot the overthrow of the Central Government. He might be an ignorant fool, but he is definitely not innocent.
Ariel
** 博客文章文責自負,不代表本公司立場 **
Ta Kung Pao recently published a series of commentaries under the byline "Gong Zhiping" over three consecutive days. The series, titled "Safeguarding Hong Kong's High-Quality Development with High-Level Security," was reposted on the website of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) for three days running, drawing public attention.
The Ta Kung Pao articles point out that, at present, the HKSAR Government and all sectors of society are more clear-eyed, more conscious and more resolute in coordinating development and security, and in safeguarding the new development paradigm with a new security architecture.
Chief Executive John Lee has led the SAR's executive, legislative and judicial authorities in firmly discharging the constitutional responsibility of safeguarding national security, continuously consolidating the bedrock of high-level security for high-quality development.
Under the protection of security, Hong Kong's development momentum is growing ever stronger and its pace ever faster. Security has become an advantage for Hong Kong's development. The full text of the article follows:
Hong Kong's journey from chaos to order, and from order to prosperity, proclaims a simple truth: only with security every step of the way has there been development every step of the way. Security is not a "tightening spell," the incantation in Journey to the West that constricts the Monkey King's headband. It is a "protective talisman" and a "booster." Security not only provides the most solid foundation for development, it also creates new dividends for development.
Today, the HKSAR Government and all sectors of society are more clear-eyed, more conscious and more resolute in coordinating development and security, and in safeguarding the new development paradigm with a new security architecture.
Chief Executive John Lee has led the SAR's executive, legislative and judicial authorities in firmly discharging the constitutional responsibility of safeguarding national security. In doing so, they continuously consolidate the bedrock of high-level security for high-quality development.
The SAR made history in completing the legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law. The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance was passed unanimously by the Legislative Council and, together with the Hong Kong National Security Law, has built a solid shield for safeguarding national security in the SAR. The principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong" has been fully implemented, and the power of governance in the SAR remains firmly in the hands of patriots.
The Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR has earnestly shouldered its principal responsibility for safeguarding national security and strengthened overall coordination. The SAR's law enforcement, prosecution and judicial departments have been fearless and faithful to their duties, cracking down on acts endangering national security in accordance with the law.
The many patriotic groups and individuals who love the country and Hong Kong have carried forward their fine traditions, waging a resolute struggle against words and deeds that undermine, vilify and disrupt Hong Kong. When hostile forces at home and abroad launch attacks and smears in the arena of public opinion, the SAR Government responds with timely and forceful exposure, criticism and rebuttal.
As for the anti-China elements bent on disrupting Hong Kong who fled overseas and continued to flagrantly violate the Hong Kong National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force has lawfully placed them on the wanted list. Measures have been applied against them as specified absconders.
The SAR Government and all sectors of society have also worked hard to advance national security education. They have held the "April 15 National Security Education Day" events year after year, opened a permanent National Security Exhibition Gallery, and brought national security education into schools, communities and the grassroots. Particular emphasis goes to strengthening such education for young people.
Hong Kong's legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security have been continuously improved, and its capabilities continuously strengthened. The truth that "only when the nation is secure can Hong Kong be secure, and only when the nation is secure can our homes be secure" has taken deep root in people's hearts. The whole of society has formed a mighty collective force for safeguarding national security.
Today, under the protection of security, Hong Kong's development momentum is getting better and better, and its pace faster and faster.
A few examples suffice to give a glimpse. In 2025, Hong Kong retained its ranking as the world's freest economy, held firm as the world's third-ranked international financial center, and rose to fourth globally in talent competitiveness. In 2026, Hong Kong became the world's largest cross-boundary wealth management center and ranked second globally in the World Competitiveness Yearbook. The economy grew 5.9% in the first quarter of 2026, and the SAR Government recently raised Hong Kong's full-year growth forecast from the previously projected 2.5%-3.5% to 3.5%-4.5%.
More encouraging still, Hong Kong is now working at full throttle on the SAR's first-ever five-year plan, painting a bright blueprint for the city's future development. The SAR Government and all sectors of society are earnestly implementing the spirit of President Xi Jinping's important instructions and proactively aligning with the country's 15th Five-Year Plan. They are upholding and refining the executive-led system, better combining a proactive government with an efficient market, and actively recognizing change, adapting to change and seeking change.
This amounts to forward-looking, science-based and systematic planning for Hong Kong's high-quality development in the new stage.
Strong consensus has been forged, and forceful measures proposed, on a range of priorities. These include highlighting the Northern Metropolis as a key focus, using the university town as a lever to drive the integrated development of education, technology and talent, and consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong's status as an international financial, shipping and trade center.
The priority list also includes accelerating the building of an international innovation and technology hub, creating a magnet for high-caliber global talent, and improving people's livelihoods across the board, in particular resolving the housing problem and bidding farewell to subdivided flats and "cage homes."
Hong Kong's development direction is now clearer, and its bright prospects more distinct.
Today, the international community and global investors increasingly agree that Hong Kong is a "safe harbor," and that a "safe harbor" is a "harbor of development." Security has become an advantage for Hong Kong's development. All objective and rational observers can see it plainly: Hong Kong safeguards national security so that the city can develop better, so that its residents can live better lives, and so that investors' lawful rights and interests can be better protected.
Overseas investors have repeatedly said that Hong Kong's safeguarding of national security has injected strong stability, certainty and sustainability into the market. A stream of international mega-events has been held in Hong Kong one after another. Friends from all over the world have come to the city to take part, casting a vote of confidence in Hong Kong.
In 2025, more than 2,700 single family offices were established in Hong Kong, over half of them with assets under management exceeding US$50 million. The number of companies in Hong Kong with parent companies located overseas or in the Chinese Mainland surpassed 11,000, a record high. Also in 2025, more than 31,000 foreign nationals were granted employment visas to work in Hong Kong, more than double the figure of five years ago.
Hong Kong now stands at a new starting point, ushering in its best period of development. The loftier the development goals and the brighter the vision, the less we can afford to slacken the taut string of security.
We must firmly establish the principle that development is an ironclad truth, and that security is no less so. We must do well in both pursuing high-quality development, the foremost task, and safeguarding national security, the matter of paramount importance.
By truly safeguarding high-quality development with high-level security, Hong Kong will surely stride steadily and surely along the broad road from order to prosperity. The city will shine with even greater splendor on the great journey of building a strong nation and realizing national rejuvenation.
