{"id":1525,"date":"2026-02-10T03:51:52","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T03:51:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=1525"},"modified":"2026-02-10T03:51:52","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T03:51:52","slug":"hong-kong-leader-celebrates-jimmy-lais-sentence-as-plan-to-enhance-security-law-published-world-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=1525","title":{"rendered":"Hong Kong leader celebrates Jimmy Lai&#8217;s sentence &#8211; as plan to enhance security law published | World News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-component-name=\"ui-article-body\" data-testid=\"article-body\" data-highlight-intro=\"true\">\n<p>The leader of Hong Kong has celebrated the 20-year jail sentence given to British pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai, saying the media tycoon had &#8220;poisoned&#8221; the city.<\/p>\n<p>John Lee was defiant in the face of criticism from Western nations, including the UK, <a href=\"https:\/\/news.sky.com\/story\/uk-foreign-secretary-says-pro-democracy-campaigner-jimmy-lais-hong-kong-jail-term-is-tantamount-to-life-sentence-13505129\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>following the 78-year-old&#8217;s sentencing yesterday<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>He was <a href=\"https:\/\/news.sky.com\/story\/jailed-briton-jimmy-lai-found-guilty-of-national-security-offences-in-hong-kong-13483513\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>found guilty<\/strong><\/a> \u200bof two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one \u200bcount of publishing seditious materials last December.<\/p>\n<p>Mr Lai denied all the charges and said he was a &#8220;political prisoner&#8221; facing persecution from Beijing. His son, Sebastien, told Sky News it was &#8220;essentially a life sentence\u2026 a death sentence&#8221;.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sdc-article-widget sdc-site-video\" data-testid=\"site-video\">\n<div class=\"ui-video-player\" data-component-name=\"ui-video-player\" data-testid=\"video-player\" data-autoplay=\"false\" data-orientation=\"\" data-disable-ads=\"\" data-disable-post-rolls=\"\" data-ad-tag=\"20346936\/skynews\/videoplayer\" data-content-source-id=\"2537425\" data-show-captions=\"\" data-account-id=\"6058004172001\" data-player-id=\"FeuO55X2f\" data-video-id=\"8594401c-047b-4edb-ad59-1bc13d3f0251\" data-auto-change-orientation=\"\" data-autoload=\"false\" data-pause-if-visibility-changes=\"mobile\" id=\"\" data-id=\"\" data-deferred-load=\"\" data-captions-position=\"lower-third\" data-share-url=\"https:\/\/news.sky.com\/share\/13505177\">\n          <button class=\"ui-video-player-poster\" title=\"Play Video\" data-testid=\"video-player-poster\"><\/p>\n<p>            <noscript>You need javascript enabled to view this content<\/noscript><\/p>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/e3.365dm.com\/26\/02\/768x432\/skynews-sebastian-lei-jimmy-lai_7159796.jpg?20260209082906\" srcset=\"https:\/\/e3.365dm.com\/26\/02\/768x432\/skynews-sebastian-lei-jimmy-lai_7159796.jpg?20260209082906 700w, https:\/\/e3.365dm.com\/26\/02\/384x216\/skynews-sebastian-lei-jimmy-lai_7159796.jpg?20260209082906 360w\" class=\"ui-video-player-poster-image\" alt=\"\" data-testid=\"video-player-poster-image\"\/><\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"ui-video-player-body\" inert=\"\">\n            <video-js class=\"ui-video-player-tag\" playsinline=\"\" poster=\"\"\/><br \/>\n             <button class=\"ui-share-button\" data-share-title=\"\" data-share-url=\"https:\/\/news.sky.com\/share\/13505177\" data-component-name=\"ui-share-button\" data-could-not-share=\"\" data-type=\"compact\" data-tracking-label=\"\/share-button\/video\"><br \/>\n    <noscript>Enable javascript to share<\/noscript><br \/>\n    <span class=\"ui-share-button-label\" data-role=\"share-label\" aria-live=\"polite\">Share<\/span><br \/>\n    <svg class=\"ui-share-button-icon\" width=\"20\" height=\"22\" fill=\"none\" version=\"1.1\" viewbox=\"0 0 20 22\"><path d=\"m17 0c0.0557 0 0.111 9e-4 0.166 0.0039 0.977 0.0363 1.91 0.553 2.44 1.46 0.266 0.456 0.39 0.954 0.392 1.45 1e-3 0.0314 0.0029 0.063 0.0029 0.0947 0 1.66-1.34 3-3 3-0.699 0-1.34-0.241-1.85-0.643l-9.17 5.25c0.0165 0.128 0.0263 0.258 0.0263 0.39 0 0.132-0.0099 0.261-0.0263 0.389l9.18 5.25c0.51-0.4 1.15-0.641 1.85-0.641 1.66 0 3 1.34 3 3 0 0.0314-0.0019 0.0626-0.0029 0.0938-0.0015 0.492-0.126 0.99-0.392 1.45-0.525 0.902-1.46 1.42-2.44 1.46-0.055 3e-3 -0.11 0.0049-0.166 0.0049-1.66 0-3-1.34-3-3 0-0.106 5e-3 -0.21 0.0157-0.312l-9.23-5.28c-0.5 0.372-1.12 0.596-1.79 0.596-1.66 0-3-1.34-3-3s1.34-3 3-3c0.671 0 1.29 0.223 1.79 0.595l9.23-5.28c-0.0106-0.102-0.0157-0.206-0.0157-0.312 0-1.66 1.34-3 3-3z\" role=\"presentation\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n    <svg class=\"ui-share-button-tick\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" fill=\"none\" version=\"1.1\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\"><path d=\"m15.7 2.69c0.39 0.391 0.39 1.02 0 1.41l-9.8 9.8-0.0762 0.0683c-0.131 0.107-0.283 0.176-0.44 0.206-0.0943 0.0182-0.191 0.0228-0.286 0.0137-0.0321-0.0031-0.064-0.0076-0.0957-0.0137-0.0631-0.0122-0.125-0.0302-0.186-0.0547-0.12-0.0488-0.233-0.122-0.33-0.22l-4.19-4.19c-0.39-0.391-0.39-1.02 0-1.41l0.694-0.694 4.21 4.2 9.81-9.81 0.694 0.694z\" role=\"presentation\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n<\/button>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\n                <span class=\"ui-media-caption__caption-text\" data-role=\"caption-text\" data-testid=\"caption-text\">Jimmy Lai given a &#8216;death sentence&#8217;<\/span>\n            <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Sir Keir Starmer had been under pressure to raise Mr Lai&#8217;s case with China&#8217;s Xi Jinping <a href=\"https:\/\/news.sky.com\/story\/starmer-hails-china-reset-a-success-but-not-everyone-is-convinced-13501085\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when he visited the country last month<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>While the government is seeking closer economic ties with Beijing, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said Mr Lai&#8217;s prosecution was &#8220;politically motivated&#8221; and expressed concern for his health.<\/p>\n<p>But China remains defiant despite the criticism, which has also come from the likes of the US and the UN.<\/p>\n<p>China&#8217;s London embassy described Ms Cooper&#8217;s comments as &#8220;erroneous&#8221;, and accused the UK of &#8220;interfering in Hong Kong&#8217;s rule of law&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>Since Mr Lai was sentenced, the Beijing regime has released a white paper outlining plans to further enhance a draconian national security law that has been used to clamp down on free speech and dissent in Hong Kong.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Read more:<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/news.sky.com\/story\/hong-kong-whats-in-chinas-new-security-law-and-why-has-it-shocked-the-world-12017233\" target=\"_blank\">What is the China&#8217;s national security law?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"sdc-article-widget sdc-article-image\" data-testid=\"article-image\">\n<figure class=\"sdc-article-image__figure\">\n<div class=\"sdc-article-image__wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sdc-article-image__item\" loading=\"lazy\" intrinsicsize=\"768x432\" src=\"https:\/\/e3.365dm.com\/26\/02\/768x432\/skynews-jimmy-lai-court-of-final-appeal_7159679.jpg?20260209002717\" srcset=\"https:\/\/e3.365dm.com\/26\/02\/384x216\/skynews-jimmy-lai-court-of-final-appeal_7159679.jpg?20260209002717 380w, https:\/\/e3.365dm.com\/26\/02\/768x432\/skynews-jimmy-lai-court-of-final-appeal_7159679.jpg?20260209002717 760w, https:\/\/e3.365dm.com\/26\/02\/1600x900\/skynews-jimmy-lai-court-of-final-appeal_7159679.jpg?20260209002717 1024w, https:\/\/e3.365dm.com\/26\/02\/2048x1152\/skynews-jimmy-lai-court-of-final-appeal_7159679.jpg?20260209002717 2048w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1024px) 1024px, 100vw\" alt=\"Jimmy Lai leaves the Court of Final Appeal by prison van in Hong Kong before his sentencing. Pic: Reuters\" data-testid=\"article-image-image\"\/>\n    <\/div><figcaption class=\"ui-media-caption\" data-testid=\"article-image-caption\">\n        <span class=\"u-hide-visually\">Image:<\/span><br \/>\n        <span class=\"ui-media-caption__caption-text\" data-testid=\"article-image-caption-text\">Jimmy Lai leaves the Court of Final Appeal by prison van in Hong Kong before his sentencing. Pic: Reuters<br \/>\n        <\/span><br \/>\n      <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>The city, which Britain handed over in 1997, was the scene of huge pro-democracy protests in 2019. The white paper described the security law as a &#8220;legal shield&#8221; that had restored order.<\/p>\n<p>Mr Lee said Mr Lai&#8217;s sentencing sent a &#8220;solemn warning against malicious plots&#8221; that endanger national security, and welcomed the white paper&#8217;s publication.<\/p>\n<p>Mr Lai&#8217;s sentencing came more than five years after he was arrested. The founder of the now defunct Apple Daily newspaper is a long-standing critic of \u2060the Chinese Communist Party.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sdc-article-widget sdc-article-image\" data-testid=\"article-image\">\n<figure class=\"sdc-article-image__figure\">\n<div class=\"sdc-article-image__wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sdc-article-image__item\" loading=\"lazy\" intrinsicsize=\"768x432\" src=\"https:\/\/e3.365dm.com\/25\/08\/768x432\/skynews-hong-kong_6990513.jpg?20250814113525\" srcset=\"https:\/\/e3.365dm.com\/25\/08\/384x216\/skynews-hong-kong_6990513.jpg?20250814113525 380w, https:\/\/e3.365dm.com\/25\/08\/768x432\/skynews-hong-kong_6990513.jpg?20250814113525 760w, https:\/\/e3.365dm.com\/25\/08\/1600x900\/skynews-hong-kong_6990513.jpg?20250814113525 1024w, https:\/\/e3.365dm.com\/25\/08\/2048x1152\/skynews-hong-kong_6990513.jpg?20250814113525 2048w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1024px) 1024px, 100vw\" alt=\"Protesters clash with police in November 2019. Pic: Reuters\" data-testid=\"article-image-image\"\/>\n    <\/div><figcaption class=\"ui-media-caption\" data-testid=\"article-image-caption\">\n        <span class=\"u-hide-visually\">Image:<\/span><br \/>\n        <span class=\"ui-media-caption__caption-text\" data-testid=\"article-image-caption-text\">Protesters clash with police in November 2019. Pic: Reuters<br \/>\n        <\/span><br \/>\n      <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>&#8216;The embodiment of what they fear&#8217;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Speaking after the verdict, Sky&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/news.sky.com\/author\/helen-ann-smith-703\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Asia correspondent Helen-Ann Smith<\/strong><\/a> said she spoke to Mr Lai&#8217;s biographer Mark Clifford last month.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s really the embodiment of what they fear,&#8221; she cited the author and close friend of the jailed tycoon as saying.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;A principled person, absolutely refusing to back down, smart, articulate, and crucially with a platform.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/news.sky.com\/story\/hong-kong-leader-celebrates-jimmy-lais-sentence-as-plan-to-enhance-security-law-published-13505520\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The leader of Hong Kong has celebrated the 20-year jail sentence given to British pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai, saying the media tycoon had &#8220;poisoned&#8221; the city.&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1269,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1525","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1525","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1525"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1525\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1269"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1525"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1525"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1525"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}