Jimmy Lai Sentenced to 20 Years Under Hong Kong National Security Law
The son of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai has described his father’s 20-year prison sentence by Chinese authorities as effectively a "death sentence."
The 78-year-old British citizen was sentenced on Monday after being found guilty of national security offences in December, marking the most severe punishment handed down under Hong Kong's controversial national security law (NSL).
Lai, a prominent critic of China, used his pro-democracy newspaper, Apple Daily, as a platform for dissent. He has consistently denied all charges against him.
His son, Sebastien Lai, told the BBC that he believes his father is being penalized for "defending the freedom of Hong Kong."
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Sebastien, a British citizen, stated that his father deserves far more than the sentence received.
"Surely a man who has given so much for liberty, for freedom deserves a bit of it himself," Sebastien said.
UK Government Calls for Lai’s Release
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper announced that the UK government plans to "rapidly engage further" with Beijing regarding Lai's release.
"I again call on the Hong Kong authorities to end this appalling ordeal and release him on humanitarian grounds, so that he may be reunited with his family," Cooper said in a statement.
"We stand with the people of Hong Kong."
Polarized Views on Jimmy Lai
While hailed as a hero by the pro-democracy movement, Lai is regarded by Beijing as a traitor.
Western governments, including the UK and US, have long called for his release, but these appeals have been rejected by Beijing and Hong Kong authorities.
Background on the National Security Law
China introduced the national security law in 2020 in response to pro-democracy protests that erupted in Hong Kong the previous year.
The legislation criminalizes a broad range of dissenting acts, including those the state interprets as secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces. It also permits Hong Kong to transfer cases to mainland China for trial.
Charges and Conviction
Lai was convicted of foreign collusion and publishing seditious material under the NSL.
The court found that he used Apple Daily, now defunct, as part of a broader campaign to lobby foreign governments to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and China.
Detention Conditions and Health Concerns
For the past five years, Lai has been held in solitary confinement at a maximum-security prison. His son believes this detention has severely impacted his health.
"Given his health, given that he has heart issues, given that he's lost 10kg over the last year alone, that's basically a death sentence," Sebastien said.
UK Prime Minister Raises Lai’s Case in Beijing
During a visit to Beijing last month, Prime Minister Keir Starmer informed reporters that he had raised the issue of Lai’s release with Chinese authorities.
"Part of the rationale for engagement is to make sure that we can both seize the opportunities that are available - which is what we've done - but also have a mature discussion about issues that we disagree on," Sir Keir said following his meeting with President Xi Jinping.
Following the visit, the UK government announced that Beijing had agreed to allow UK citizens to travel visa-free for trips under 30 days.
The trip also resulted in an agreement to reduce import taxes on UK whisky from 10% to 5%, as the government seeks closer trade relations with Beijing to stimulate economic growth.
Son’s Perspective on UK-China Relations
When asked about the UK government's diplomatic efforts to normalize relations with China, Sebastien suggested that his father’s case presents an "easy" opportunity to strengthen ties.
"If we talk about warming a relationship, well, I think for most people listening to this, isn't putting a 78-year-old man on a plane and sending him back here a very easy way for Hong Kong and China to do that?" Sebastien told the BBC.
