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…
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,…
CPJ joins 71 groups in call to secure Jimmy Lai’s release on medical grounds
The Committee to Protect Journalists joined 71 other press freedom and human rights organizations in an August 21 joint letter calling on British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to secure UK citizen and publisher Jimmy Lai’s release on medical grounds. Lai, the 77-year-old founder of the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, has suffered deteriorating health, including heart palpitations…
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….
Jimmy Lai’s Hong Kong jail is ‘breaking his body,’ says his son
In his tireless global campaign to save 77-year-old media publisher Jimmy Lai from life imprisonment in Hong Kong, Sebastien Lai has not seen his father for more than four years. Sebastien, who leads the #FreeJimmyLai campaign, last saw his father in August 2020 — weeks after Beijing imposed a national security law that led to…
Hong Kong must end Jimmy Lai’s show trial, CPJ urges ahead of hearing
New York, November 18, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists urges the Hong Kong government to drop its trumped-up charges against media publisher Jimmy Lai, who is set to take the stand for the first time on Wednesday in his trial on national security charges, which could see the 77-year-old jailed for life if convicted. “This…
CPJ, 44 groups urge UK judge to quit after upholding Jimmy Lai’s conviction
British judge David Neuberger, who was part of a Hong Kong court panel that denied an appeal from media publisher Jimmy Lai and six pro-democracy campaigners, should “do the right thing and reconsider” his position in the Chinese-ruled city, the Committee to Protect Journalists and 44 groups said in a Monday letter. The letter said…