Hong Kong Media Tycoon Jimmy Lai Convicted: The Decline of Press Freedom Under National Security Law

Dec 15, 2025 01:55 pm CST

Hong Kong pro-democracy media magnate Jimmy Lai has been found guilty on three national security charges, facing potential life imprisonment. The 78-year-old Apple Daily founder's conviction represents a critical moment for press freedom in Hong Kong, as international rights organizations condemn the verdict. Detained since 2020, Lai's case highlights the ongoing tensions between democratic values and China's national security priorities in the former British colony.