Dear Friends from Foreign Media based in Hong Kong:

On February 9, a Hong Kong court handed down its sentence in the case of Jimmy Lai. The ruling fully demonstrates the determination of Hong Kong’s judiciary to safeguard national security and uphold the rule of law. It represents not only the fulfillment of justice, but also a clear warning to anyone who attempts to challenge legal boundaries.

Jimmy Lai’s sentence reflects the severity of his horrific crimes. The evidence presented at the trial was overwhelming and conclusive. For years, Lai incited social unrest by manipulating public opinion, actively lobbied Western governments to impose so-called “sanctions” against both the Chinese central government and the Hong Kong SAR government, and persisted in activities aimed at destabilizing Hong Kong even after the Hong Kong national security law had taken effect.

In meetings with U.S. politicians, Lai appealed for foreign intervention in Hong Kong affairs. He had no qualm about publicly stating he was fighting for the United State, even when being called a “traitor”. These actions far exceeded the bounds of protected speech, violated the rule of law and social order, jeopardized Hong Kong’s stability and prosperity, and breached the fundamental principle of “one country, two systems”—amounting to serious criminal offenses that threatened national security. Thus the sentence passed today, grounded in fact and law, is legally sound, justified, and incontestable.

Hong Kong’s judiciary operates with full independence under the law, upholding due process, transparency, and openness at every stage. During the trial, the court reviewed over 2,200 pieces of evidence, examined more than 80,000 pages of documentation, heard testimonies from 14 witnesses, and observed Lai himself testify across 52 days of proceedings. The trial has been closely observed not only by Hong Kong’s public and the press, but also by a number of foreign consular officials, who witnessed the trial in person.

Conducted without external influence, the proceedings adhered to rigorous standards of fairness, were grounded in clear facts and robust evidence, and culminated in a legally sound verdict. The ruling stands as a testament to the professionalism, transparency, and impartiality of Hong Kong’s judicial system.

We sincerely hope that journalists of foreign media agencies based in Hong Kong will respect the independence of Hong Kong’s judicial process, uphold journalistic professionalism, and report on the case with objectivity and fairness, refraining from politicizing legal matters.

We believe that a stable and prosperous Hong Kong serves the interests of all parties. We urge all the friends from the media to cherish the hard‑earned stability of Hong Kong and, through your reporting, present to the world a truthful, law‑based, and open Hong Kong.

Spokesperson of the Commissioner’s Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR

February 9, 2026