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Supporters of Hong Kong democracy activist and media tycoon Jimmy Lai queued overnight outside the city’s High Court on Monday as anticipation grew ahead of the verdict in his landmark national security trial, a case that has drawn intense international scrutiny and renewed debate over press freedom and civil liberties in Hong Kong.
Jimmy Lai, 78, founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, has spent nearly five years in jail and faces some of the most serious charges brought under Beijing’s sweeping national security law. Lai has pleaded not guilty to three charges, including two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security, offences that carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, and one count of conspiracy to publish seditious publications. Lai is also a British citizen, adding a diplomatic dimension to the case.
The trial, which began in December 2023, is widely regarded as the highest-profile application of the national security law since it was imposed on Hong Kong in 2020. The verdict comes during a year that has seen Hong Kong’s democratic opposition all but disappear, highlighted by the Democratic Party’s decision to disband under pressure from Beijing just one day before the ruling.
Outside the courthouse, police monitored long queues stretching more than a block as hundreds of people sought one of the limited public gallery tickets. Many supporters, including former Apple Daily readers, expressed little optimism but said their presence was a show of solidarity. Lai’s family has raised concerns about his deteriorating health, citing prolonged solitary confinement and chronic medical conditions.
The case has prompted repeated calls from the United States, Britain, and international rights groups for Lai’s immediate release, with critics describing the trial as politically motivated. Chinese and Hong Kong authorities maintain that Lai is receiving a fair trial and argue that national security considerations justify restrictions on certain freedoms.
As Hong Kong continues to grapple with political tensions and public anxiety, the verdict in Jimmy Lai’s trial is expected to have lasting implications for the city’s future, its legal system, and global perceptions of freedom of expression under Chinese rule.
