Hong Kong Tycoon Jimmy Lai Will Not Appeal 20-Year Jail Term

Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai will not appeal his conviction and 20-year prison sentence under the city’s national security law, according to a member of his legal team.

The decision follows one of Hong Kong’s most closely watched legal cases involving press freedom and political dissent.

Lai, 78, the founder of the now-closed pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, was convicted in December 2025 and sentenced in February 2026 after a national security trial.

He was found guilty on two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of publishing seditious materials.

• Jimmy Lai will not appeal 20-year sentence under Hong Kong law
• Apple Daily founder’s case highlights press freedom concerns
• National security conviction ends long-running legal battle

A lawyer from Lai’s defence team told on Friday that the media tycoon would not challenge the conviction or sentence through the appeals process. The ruling and the decision not to appeal end a legal case that has lasted nearly five years and drawn international attention.

Lai’s case is among the most prominent prosecutions under Hong Kong’s national security law, introduced by Beijing in 2020 after months of anti-government protests in Hong Kong. Critics argue that the legislation restricts political opposition and limits press freedom, while authorities say it is required to safeguard national security and restore order.

The conviction and prison sentence have drawn criticism from several Western governments, including the United States and Britain, which have called for Lai’s release and expressed concern over civil liberties in Hong Kong. Chinese and Hong Kong officials maintain that the judicial process is lawful and that the charges were brought under existing national security provisions.

Lai recently won a partial legal victory when Hong Kong’s Court of Appeal overturned a separate fraud conviction related to the lease arrangement for the Apple Daily headquarters. The court ruled that a lower-court judge had made an error, and the conviction and sentence in that case were quashed.

However, that ruling did not affect the 20-year prison sentence tied to the national security charges. With the decision not to appeal, Lai is expected to serve the sentence unless future legal or political developments alter the outcome.

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Lai built a media empire that openly supported Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement and frequently criticised Beijing’s policies toward the territory. His imprisonment continues to be viewed by supporters as a symbol of the dispute over political freedoms in Hong Kong and media independence.