Twenty years is 'a death sentence', son of British media tycoon jailed by China says
Hong Kong media tycoon and British citizen Jimmy Lai, 78, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Monday, 9 February 2026. This is the harshest penalty ever handed down under the city's 2020 National Security Law.
His family and human rights groups have condemned the ruling as a "death sentence" or an "effective life sentence," given his advanced age and reports of his declining health.
đïž The Sentencing and Charges
The sentencing follows a high-profile trial that lasted over two years. Lai was convicted in December 2025 on multiple charges:
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Foreign Collusion: Accused of conspiring to call for international sanctions against Hong Kong and China.
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Sedition: Convicted for publishing "seditious" articles in his now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper, Apple Daily.
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The Verdict: Judges described Lai as the "mastermind" behind a conspiracy to destabilise the government. While he was spared a life sentence, the 20-year term—when added to his existing fraud conviction—means he may remain in prison until he is 96 years old.
đ„ Family and International Reaction
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Sebastien Lai (Son): Described the sentence as "devastating" and a "dark day for justice." He believes his father is being punished for defending freedom and has urged the UK to do more to secure his release.
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Erica Lepp (Niece): Speaking from Canada, she called the term "basically a life sentence for my uncle" and expressed heartbreak over the loss of press freedom in Hong Kong.
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UK Government: Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned the "politically motivated" prosecution and called for Lai's release on humanitarian grounds. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed he raised the case directly with President Xi Jinping during his visit to Beijing in January 2026.
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Human Rights Groups: Amnesty International and PEN America labelled the sentence a "travesty of justice" and an attempt to "stifle dissenting voices."
đ Impact on Hong Kong
The case is widely seen as a symbol of the end of media independence in Hong Kong. Since Apple Daily was forced to close in 2021, the city's press freedom ranking has plummeted. Six of Lai's former colleagues and editors were also sentenced on Monday to jail terms ranging from six to ten years.
Beijing and Hong Kong authorities have defended the trial as "right, legitimate, and lawful," stating that the court acted on clear evidence of national security threats and that no individual is above the law.
