HRF strongly condemns Hong Kong’s 20-year sentence of pro-democracy publisher Jimmy Lai, the harshest penalty delivered thus far under the national security law.

Lai, a 78-year-old British citizen and founder of the now-closed Apple Daily, has been detained since 2020. During much of his detention, he has been subject to prolonged solitary confinement, despite serious health concerns.

Six former Apple Daily employees and two activists were also sentenced to prison terms ranging from six to 10 years. These harsh sentences demonstrate how the national security law suppresses freedom of expression in Hong Kong.

HRF calls for Jimmy Lai’s immediate release, and calls for press freedom to be respected in Hong Kong. Learn more about Jimmy Lai from his son, Sebastien Lai, in this talk from the 2024 Oslo Freedom Forum.