Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai declines appeal against 20-year sentence amid global criticism

HONG KONG media tycoon Jimmy Lai has chosen not to challenge his conviction and 20-year jail sentence for collusion with foreign forces and sedition, his legal team confirmed on Friday, bringing to a close a protracted legal saga that has attracted international scrutiny and criticism.

Lai, 78, who founded the now-shuttered pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper, has long been a vocal critic of the Chinese Communist Party. His sentencing in February followed a December conviction on two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of publishing seditious materials.

A member of Lai’s domestic legal team, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, confirmed: “We can confirm we have clear and definitive instructions not to lodge an appeal against conviction or sentence.” The lawyer did not provide a reason for the decision.

Meanwhile, Fung Wai-kong, the former editor-in-chief of Apple Daily’s English news section, has launched an appeal against his own 10-year sentence in the same national security case.

Lai’s family has expressed grave concern for his health, warning that he could die in custody. Having spent over five years in solitary confinement, Lai suffers from diabetes and other medical conditions, including heart palpitations and high blood pressure.

The case has sparked international calls for Lai’s release. Rights groups and governments, including the United States and the United Kingdom, have criticised the conviction, with U.S. President Donald Trump raising the matter with Chinese President Xi Jinping and reportedly planning to follow up during his upcoming visit to Beijing.

Hong Kong and Beijing have defended the proceedings, asserting that Lai received a fair trial and that all individuals are treated equally under the national security law, which authorities say has restored stability to the city following mass pro-democracy protests in 2019.

Lai did secure a rare legal victory last month when Hong Kong’s Court of Appeal overturned a separate conviction for fraud, quashing a 69-month sentence, highlighting the complex and high-profile nature of his legal battles.

This decision marks a significant moment in Hong Kong’s contentious press freedom landscape, leaving Lai to serve his lengthy sentence without further legal recourse. - March 6, 2026