Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in prison in Hong Kong’s biggest media trial
New York, February 9, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists on Monday condemned the sentencing of publisher Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison and jail terms of six to 10 years for former colleagues from the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, in Hong Kong’s largest media trial. “The rule of law has been completely shattered in…
Jimmy Lai, 6 Apple Daily execs to be sentenced in Hong Kong’s biggest media trial
New York, February 6, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Hong Kong authorities to cease targeting journalists and release all those behind bars, ahead of Monday’s expected sentencing of publisher Jimmy Lai and six former colleagues from his defunct Apple Daily newspaper, in the city’s largest media trial. “Jimmy Lai’s trial has been nothing…
CPJ condemns Hong Kong’s conviction of Jimmy Lai in national security case
New York, December 14, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns a Hong Kong court’s conviction of Jimmy Lai, founder of the defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, in a landmark national security trial and calls on authorities to immediately free the 78-year-old British citizen. “This sham conviction is a disgraceful act of persecution,” said CPJ Asia-Pacific…
Hong Kong court set to rule in Jimmy Lai trial on Monday
New York, December 12, 2025—Ahead of Monday’s expected verdict in the national security trial of Jimmy Lai, founder of the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, the Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Hong Kong authorities to drop all charges against the 78-year-old publisher and release him immediately and unconditionally. Lai, whose health has worsened after spending…
Hong Kong arrests commentator, summons international media over deadly fire
New York, December 8, 2025—Chinese and Hong Kong authorities must immediately stop harassing journalists, release news commentator Wong Kwok-ngon, and allow the media to freely cover the city’s most deadly fire in decades, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. In a rare move, Beijing’s national security arm in Hong Kong, the Office for Safeguarding…
CPJ, partners call for urgent action on systemic abuses in Hong Kong prisons
The Committee to Protect Journalists has joined 52 other civil society groups in calling on United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk to address systemic abuses occurring in Hong Kong’s prisons. The joint letter highlights serious violations documented in a recent report, including the use of solitary confinement lasting far beyond international limits,…
Hong Kong-based Bloomberg reporter latest journalist denied work visa since National Security Law
Editor’s note: This alert has been updated to include a response from Hong Kong’s Immigration Department. New York, August 25, 2025—Hong Kong authorities should ensure the right of journalists to work freely and renew the work visa of Bloomberg reporter Rebecca Choong Wilkins, who is among at least eight journalists whose work visas and entry into the city have been…
CPJ urges Hong Kong to free Jimmy Lai as trial near its end
New York, August 13, 2025—As closing arguments are set to begin on August 14 in the national security trial of Jimmy Lai, founder of the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, the Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Hong Kong authorities to drop all charges against the 77-year-old publisher and release him immediately and unconditionally. Lai, whose…
Why a Hong Kong law that is eroding press freedom is also bad for business
Hong Kong, an international financial hub and once a beacon of free media, is now in the grip of a rapid decline in press freedom that threatens the city’s status as a global financial information center. Three journalists told CPJ that investigative reporting on major economic events, a cornerstone of Hong Kong’s financial transparency, has…
UK PM yet to meet jailed Jimmy Lai’s son as Hong Kong publisher’s health worsens
New York, June 24, 2025—On the fourth anniversary of the closure of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, the Committee to Protect Journalists joined 32 other press freedom and human rights organizations in calling on British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to urgently meet with Sebastien Lai, son of jailed publisher and British citizen Jimmy Lai….