00:00A convoy of buses carries jailed pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai away
00:07from a Hong Kong courthouse. The former media tycoon has been convicted of
00:12sedition and colluding with foreign forces. The ruling ends a nearly half
00:17year-long trial under the city's harsh national security law. Sentencing in a
00:22landmark case will begin in January, but he could face life in prison. Lai, founder
00:28of the now-defunct Apple Daily, has long been a vocal critic of China. He had
00:33pleaded not guilty to all charges. Outside, the impact Lai has had on Hong Kongers
00:38was clear, with supporters lining up down the block to get a seat in the
00:42courtroom, many who came out there overnight. They say they're worried about
00:47the 78-year-old, whose health has worsened after nearly five years in solitary
00:52confinement. But they stand behind his mission to protect democracy.
00:56Jimmy Lai represents a set of beliefs that are very common among Hong Kong people. You could say
01:04that. He himself has also done a lot of good things. His philosophy and values align with those of a
01:09large part of Hong Kong society. People who share similar ideals, democracy, freedom, justice and
01:16conscience. Maybe these sound a bit old-fashioned to say now.
01:20Critics say Lai's verdict is just the latest example of Hong Kong's eroding freedoms under its
01:28Beijing-backed government. Authorities there have increasingly clamped down on dissent since the
01:33passage of the national security law in 2020, following large-scale pro-democracy demonstrations.
01:39That's included press freedom. NGO Reporters Without Borders says Lai is one of over a hundred
01:45journalists still detained in China and Hong Kong, and urges countries to pressure China's government
01:50for his release. The only way of getting Jimmy Lai and all other detained journalists from Hong Kong
01:56is really the pressure of the international community and democracies, including President
02:00Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister. And it's up to them to speak with leader of CCP Xi Jinping and demand
02:08his release, especially because Jimmy Lai is UK citizen only.
02:13International reactions to Lai's conviction have been swift. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council,
02:19which handles relations with China, called out Hong Kong authorities for stifling speech and press
02:24freedom. While the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, lawmakers from dozens of countries
02:30called the case a sham trial that fell far short of international fair trial standards.
02:35Even before the ruling, Lai's case had gotten the attention of world leaders.
02:41U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly appealed to Chinese leader Xi Jinping to release Lai during
02:46their meeting in South Korea in October. But prior to the trial on Monday,
02:51Beijing signaled support for the Hong Kong government.
02:53With Lai now convicted and his sentence pending, journalists and pro-democracy advocates in Hong Kong
03:18are on high alert as the city grapples with the impacts of this case.
03:23Alex Chan and Irene Lin for Taiwan Plus.
