Verdict on Jimmy Lai's case affirms Hong Kong's rule of law: official

Sentencing Jimmy Lai, an instigator of anti-China riots in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to 20 years in prison by the High Court of the HKSAR on Monday demonstrated that "no one is above the law," said Gordon Lam, a Hong Kong SAR deputy to the 14th National People's Congress.

Lai was found guilty in December 2025 by the High Court of the HKSAR on two charges of conspiring to collude with external forces and a charge of conspiracy to publish seditious materials. Mitigation hearing for Lai's case began on Jan. 12 and concluded on Jan. 13.

The defendants in the national security case include Lai, Apple Daily Limited, Apple Daily Printing Limited, and Apple Daily Internet Limited, all facing charges of conspiracy to publish seditious materials and conspiracy to collude with external forces. Lai was also facing a separate charge of conspiring to collude with external forces.

"As someone who respects the rule of law in Hong Kong, I see this verdict as a clear affirmation that no one is above the law. The trial followed established legal procedures under the Hong Kong national security law and local statutes. The core issue was never about a person's profession or general opinions, but about assessing specific acts, such as conspiracy with external forces against clear legal standards designed to protect national security. Safeguarding national security is the fundamental cornerstone for Hong Kong's stability and continued prosperity," said Lam.

Verdict on Jimmy Lai's case affirms Hong Kong's rule of law: official

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Thursday presided over a State Council executive meeting that studied work on building a unified national market and reviewed and approved a plan for the development of a modern emergency response system during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).

Noting that building a unified national market is essential to advancing high-quality development, the meeting called for deepening institutional frameworks in areas such as property rights protection, market access, fair competition, social credit and market exit mechanisms.

The meeting also urged efforts to advance high-standard connectivity of market infrastructure to facilitate smooth economic circulation and effectively reduce logistics costs across society.

Emergency management is critical to protecting people's lives and property, the meeting said. It called for accelerating the development of a modern emergency response system, deepening reform and innovation in emergency management, and improving coordinated response mechanisms.

Efforts should be made to strengthen risk prevention at the source, enhance monitoring, forecasting and early warning, and accelerate a shift in governance toward proactive prevention, according to the meeting.

A draft revision of the Law on the People's Bank of China was also discussed and approved in principle at the meeting, which decided to submit the draft to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for deliberation.

Chinese premier chairs State Council executive meeting