Hong Kong society rallied behind this week's court verdict against Jimmy Lai, with leaders and organizations praising the decision as a defense of judicial integrity and national security. The High Court of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) found Lai guilty on December 15, 2025, of conspiring with external forces and publishing seditious materials—charges tied to his role in destabilizing the city during anti-China riots.
💡 'This trial shattered false narratives about Hong Kong's legal system,' said Lee Wai-king of the HKSAR Legislative Council, emphasizing the transparency of proceedings that allocated 500+ public seats for observers. Business groups and academic experts alike highlighted the rigorous evidence review and fair trial process.
📜 The New People's Party noted Lai's case marks the first national security law prosecution for foreign collusion, while law professor Fu Kin-chi called the judgment 'a textbook example of legal reasoning.' Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers stressed that post-2020 national security legislation has 'brought stability while protecting rights.'
🌐 The verdict drew sharp criticism of Western interference, with the Hong Kong China Friendship Association condemning foreign attempts to 'bully our judiciary.' Legislative Council member Lee Tsz-king declared: 'This ruling proves we'll defend our rule of law from external pressure.'
As the city moves forward, leaders reaffirmed that upholding national security remains inseparable from preserving Hong Kong's cherished legal traditions. ⚖️🇭🇰
