Jimmy Lai verdict: From Hong Kong activist to national security criminal

李家超判决:从香港活动家到国家安全罪犯

Asia Specific

2025-12-17

26 分钟
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How tycoon Jimmy Lai went from pro-democracy activist to national security criminal is a story that, some say, mirrors the changes in Hong Kong itself. The 78-year-old once published the city's most widely-read tabloid Apple Daily, which played a pivotal role in encouraging and supporting pro-democracy protestors during a prolonged and violent uprising in 2019. But for the past six years, he’s been the target of the Chinese government’s national security police. Now, after a landmark trial in Hong Kong, Jimmy Lai has been found guilty of foreign collusion - a conviction that one human rights group describes as the ‘death knell’ for press freedom in the former British colony. Asia Specific host Mariko Oi is joined by BBC Senior Journalist Danny Vincent and Hong Kong Journalists Association Chairperson Selina Cheng, and examines the reaction of activists exiled abroad with former Hong Kong Legislative Councillor Ted Hui. Asia Specific brings you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the Asia Pacific region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends. Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people. Whether it is the latest on trade between China and Donald Trump, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy - we unpack what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter. Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a week. Episodes of Asia Specific are also available on YouTube here: https://bit.ly/4iJyeVt Get in touch: asiaspecific@bbc.co.uk
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  • National Security Criminal.

  • Jimmy Lai's life in many ways tells the story of modern Hong Kong.

  • The 78-year-old's conviction for sedition and conspiring to collude with foreign forces marks what one human rights group says is the death knell for press freedom in the city.

  • It was an outcome he long seemed prepared for.

  • If I'm in jail, I'm living my life meaningfully.

  • Why did the Chinese government view an aging billionaire as its top target in Hong Kong?

  • Jimmy Lai has long used his media outlet, Apple Daily,

  • to deliberately create social conflicts, incite division and hatred within the community.

  • In this episode, we'll go to Hong Kong where this verdict was seen by many as a foregone conclusion.

  • Many people, many critics, many pro-Beijing and pro-democracy people and campaigners,

  • they all predicted that Jimmy Lai would be the number one target of the national security law.

  • With all opposition parties now disbanded and top activists either jailed, silenced or exiled,

  • what space does China's once liberal outpost still allow for free speech?

  • So my boss forwarded that to me,

  • saying that someone's targeting your family that contains a PDF file,