Photo: VCG

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)'s High Court on Monday morning found Jimmy Lai, an instigator of anti-China riots in Hong Kong, guilty on two charges of conspiring to collude with external forces and a charge of conspiracy to publish seditious materials. 

Multiple central government departments of China voiced their support on Monday for the verdict. 

The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council said on Monday that it firmly supports the HKSAR's legal conviction of Jimmy Lai, a chief culprit behind the anti-China and disruptive activities in Hong Kong. Numerous facts revealed during the court proceedings clearly prove that Lai engaged in activities that endangered national security, further solidifying the public's perception that he was a chief culprit behind the past chaos in Hong Kong. He is a traitor who willingly serves as a "lackey" of external forces. People across the country, including our compatriots in Hong Kong, are outraged by this and strongly demand that he be severely punished according to the law, the office said. 

As Hong Kong's first case involving the "conspiracy to collude with external forces" offense since the implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong, Jimmy Lai faced a maximum sentence of life imprisonment if found guilty, some legal experts told the Global Times on Monday. 

The case was adjourned to January 12, 2026 to plead with other defendants, with the sentencing date to be determined later, Sing Tao Daily reported on Monday.

The defendants 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, the Xinhua News Agency reported. 

Following the verdict, some international organizations that hold anti-China stance and the UK made negative statements, which the Chinese government and the Chinese Embassy in the UK expressed firm opposition to. 

Hong Kong upholds the rule of law. The central government firmly supports the HKSAR in safeguarding national security and punishing crimes that endanger national security in accordance with the law, Guo Jiakun, spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said on Monday. 

China deplores and firmly opposes certain countries blatantly making false accusations against Hong Kong's judicial affairs. Judicial authorities in HKSAR fulfill their duties, safeguard the authority of the law and defend national security in accordance with the law. This is justified, legitimate, lawful and beyond reproach. The relevant judicial case is purely Hong Kong's internal affair, Guo said. 

We urge relevant country to respect China's sovereignty and the rule of law in Hong Kong, and refrain from making irresponsible remarks on the trial of judicial cases in HKSAR or meddling in Hong Kong's judicial affairs and interfering in China's internal affairs in any form, the spokesperson added. 

The Chinese Embassy in the UK issued a statement on Monday strongly opposing and condemning the unjustified action by the UK side after UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper openly commented on the conviction of Jimmy Lai and smeared the National Security Law for Hong Kong. 

Lai is by no means the peaceful advocate for free speech that the UK claims; his actions have severely undermined the bottom line of the "One Country, Two Systems" principle, endangered national security, and harmed the prosperity, stability, and welfare of Hong Kong's citizens. Such serious crimes should be met with severe punishment under the law, the embassy's spokesperson said. 


Clear message 

Following a 156-day trial, this landmark case — the first major case involving collusion with external forces  since the implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong — not only underscores the authority and dignity of the rule of law in Hong Kong, but also sends a clear message to the world: any attempt to split the country  or undermine Hong Kong's prosperity and stability will be met with severe punishment under the law, Louis Chen, member of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies who is also a member of the Hong Kong Election Committee, told the Global Times on Monday. 

From a legal perspective, the ruling further demonstrates that any organization or individual, regardless of background, will be held legally accountable if they violate the National Security Law for Hong Kong. It sets a clear benchmark for the rule of law in Hong Kong: national security is inviolable, and legal red lines must not be crossed, Chen said.

Jimmy Lai used his media outlet, Apple Daily, to recklessly stir social divisions, incite societal confrontation, glorify violence, and openly solicit foreign sanctions against China and the HKSAR, inviting external interference, HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee said in a social media post on Monday. 

His actions have harmed the fundamental interests of the country and the well-being of Hong Kong citizens. His conducts were shameful and malicious. His crimes were committed openly, with overwhelming evidence. The court's conviction demonstrates the justice of the law and upholds Hong Kong's core values, Lee said.

The court made it clear in its written reasons for judgment that Lai was not tried because of his political views or beliefs, Secretary for Security of the HKSAR Chris Tang Ping-keung said, noting that since the start of the trial, external forces and anti-China, destabilizing elements have continuously distorted the facts and attempted to whitewash the criminal acts of Jimmy Lai and his team with falsehoods.

As Hong Kong's first non-guilty plea case involving the "conspiracy to collude with foreign forces" offense, the court found Jimmy Lai guilty on all charges, carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, Willy Fu, a law professor who is also the director of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong & Macao Studies, told the Global Times on Monday.

This case is the most significant and the most closely watched by Western countries since the implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong, said Lau Siu-kai, a consultant from the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies who is also a senior policy advisor. 

"The greatest significance of this case is that no one has a 'get-out-of-jail-free card' when it comes to national security laws; both the central and Hong Kong SAR governments will uphold national security with a firm stance and decisive enforcement," Lau told the Global Times on Monday.