‘Judgment illustrates rule of law’

February 9, 2026

Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung: 

Today the court handed down a sentence of the Lai Chee-ying case. Given the (trim: grief) grave nature of the case, his total sentence is 20 years imprisonment. As for the eight other defendants, their imprisonment sentences range from 6 years and 3 months to 10 years.

The court pointed out that Lai Chee-ying was the mastermind and driving force in the case. He has colluded with foreign forces to beg for sanctions against his country. The court has emphasised that Lai had harboured his resentment and hatred of China for years. His only intent was to seek the downfall of the Chinese Communist Party and even though the ultimate cause would be the sacrifice of the people of China and that of the Hong Kong SAR.

The court held that the offence of conspiracy to public seditious publications in this case fell within the most serious category of its type and the two offenses of conspiracy to commit collusion with a foreign country or with external element fell within the category of offence of a grave nature. As the court pointed out in the reasons for the sentence, these offences took place at a time when Hong Kong had hardly recovered from the social turmoil caused by the “black-clad violence”. The conspiracies were meticulously planned, involved multiple parties and were clearly premeditated.

Even after the enactment of the Hong Kong National Security Law, the defendants continued with their crimes for some time until after they were arrested by the police. In fact, the sanctions imposed by foreign countries against the Hong Kong SAR as well as against the officials of China and the Hong Kong SAR have not been removed even up to today. The court clearly identified Lai Chee-ying as a mastermind behind these conspiracies and therefore enhanced the starting point for his sentence. The heavy sentence clearly reflects the very serious nature of the offence committed by Lai Chee-ying. The court's judgment illustrates that the rule of law in Hong Kong is robust, criminal acts will never be tolerated and no one is above the law.

(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung said the court's judgment in the Lai Chee-ying case illustrates that the rule of law in Hong Kong is robust, criminal acts will never be tolerated and no one is above the law.

The court today sentenced Lai Chee-ying to 20 years’ imprisonment, given the grave nature of the case.

Mr Tang told a media session this afternoon that the heavy sentence clearly reflects the very serious nature of the offences committed by Lai Chee-ying.

“The court pointed out that Lai Chee-ying was the mastermind and driving force in the case. He has colluded with foreign forces to beg for sanctions against his country. The court has emphasised that Lai had harboured his resentment and hatred of China for years. His only intent was to seek the downfall of the Chinese Communist Party and even though the ultimate cost would be the sacrifice of the people of China and that of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.”

The court held that the offence of "conspiracy to print, publish, sell, offer for sale, distribute, display and/or reproduce seditious publications" in this case fell within the most serious category of its type, and the two offences of "conspiracy to commit collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security" fell within the category of offences of a grave nature.

In the reasons for the sentence, the court pointed out these offences took place at a time when Hong Kong had hardly recovered from the social turmoil caused by the black-clad violence. The conspiracies were meticulously planned, involved multiple parties and were clearly premeditated.

Even after the enactment of the Hong Kong National Security Law, the defendants continued with their crimes for some time until after they were arrested by the police.

Mr Tang added: “The heavy sentence clearly reflects the very serious nature of the offence committed by Lai Chee-ying. The court's judgment illustrates that the rule of law in Hong Kong is robust, criminal acts will never be tolerated and no one is above the law.”

He emphasised that both the reasons for the verdict and the sentence handed down fully demonstrate that the court has arrived at the judgment in strict accordance with the law and the evidence, not with any underlying matters of political, policies or other non-legal considerations.

In addition, the Lai Chee-ying case has nothing to do with freedom of the press.

The security chief noted that although Lai Chee-ying and other defendants will face legal sanctions they deserve, Hong Kong is still facing national security risks. The Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to unwaveringly and fearlessly prevent, suppress and punish acts and activities that endanger national security in accordance with the law.