Hong Kong’s pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai has won an appeal against a 2022 fraud conviction that had sentenced him to nearly six years in jail. The Court of Appeal on Thursday quashed the conviction against Lai and another defendant, who had been accused of illegally subletting office space.
Despite the legal victory, the 78-year-old tycoon will remain in prison. Earlier this month, Lai was sentenced to 20 years under Hong Kong’s national security law for colluding with foreign forces. He has been detained since 2020 and is a British citizen and outspoken critic of Beijing.
Lai’s daughter, Claire, described the appeal ruling as “nothing more than a PR move by the Hong Kong authorities.” She warned that the decision should not be seen as a sign of fairness in the legal system, saying her father “is still unjustly imprisoned and will remain so for nearly 20 years unless urgent action is taken to secure his release.”
Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, who heads Lai’s international legal team, echoed these concerns, noting that the overturning of the fraud conviction “changes nothing” and that Lai faces serious health risks in prison. Gallagher emphasized that the ruling does not indicate that Hong Kong’s judicial system operates justly.
Jimmy Lai founded Apple Daily in 1995, a pro-democracy tabloid that became Hong Kong’s largest critical voice against Beijing. The newspaper was forced to close in 2021 following the arrests of Lai and other key staff. The fraud trial was linked to Apple Daily’s office lease, with prosecutors arguing that Lai had allowed his private consultancy firm to operate from space rented by the newspaper. Wong Wai-keung, a former executive at Lai’s media company, was also jailed in the case for 21 months.
Human rights groups and foreign governments have criticized Lai’s detention as part of a broader crackdown on civil liberties in Hong Kong, particularly following the implementation of the national security law. Earlier this month, the UK and US said the law has been used to silence activists like Lai. Beijing and Hong Kong authorities maintain that the legislation is necessary to ensure stability and deny that it undermines Hong Kong’s autonomy.
Lai’s health in prison has been a source of concern for his family and supporters. Last December, Claire Lai told the BBC that her father’s teeth were rotting and his fingernails “sometimes fall off.” Chinese authorities, however, have stated that Lai is in “good health” and receives appropriate care.
Supporters of Lai’s cause have expressed skepticism over the appeal decision, highlighting that the overturning of the fraud conviction does little to change his overall imprisonment. One supporter attending the court hearing noted that even if Lai were released slightly later, the difference would be minimal given his age.
The case continues to draw international attention as a symbol of the shrinking freedoms in Hong Kong and the ongoing tensions between pro-democracy activists and Beijing.
