February 9, 2026
Apples to outrage
Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai gets 20 years' jail
Internet erupts: “UK failed Hong Kong,” CCP slammed by furious commenters
TLDR: Jimmy Lai, 78, got 20 years under Hong Kong’s national security law. The comment section exploded—users blasted the UK over a broken handover treaty, likened the CCP to Nazis, and fought over labels for Lai—framing this as a press freedom crisis with global stakes.
Hong Kong’s 78-year-old media tycoon Jimmy Lai just got 20 years in prison under the city’s national security law, and the comments section went full wildfire. Rights groups called it a “death sentence,” while Hong Kong’s leader said the verdict was “deeply gratifying.” The clash online was instant and loud. One user dropped the Sino-British Joint Declaration like a mic, arguing the UK broke promises and should’ve “demanded Hong Kong’s return.” Another fired back at a claim that Lai was “fascist” with a sharp, “What makes Jimmy Lai a fascist?” and linked his profile for receipts.
Then came the flamethrower: someone declared the CCP is the “Nazi regime of the 21st century,” igniting a blazing debate about whether “communist forces” = China’s ruling party. The sarcasm brigade rolled in too: “Colluding with foreign forces = coffee with Pence?” and “Apples are now the forbidden fruit,” riffing on Lai’s Apple Daily. Meanwhile, emotional posts noted supporters camping outside court, Lai smiling at family, and tears as the sentence landed.
The split is stark: officials call it rule of law; commenters call it the coffin nail for press freedom. Demands for stronger UK action and global pressure got loud; defenders insisted stability comes first. Drama meter: off the charts.
Key Points
- •Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison for colluding with foreign forces under Hong Kong’s national security law.
- •Authorities and China’s foreign ministry said the verdict reflects the rule of law, while rights groups condemned it as draconian.
- •The case centers on Lai’s 2019 meetings with then U.S. officials Mike Pence and Mike Pompeo during the Hong Kong protests.
- •Six former Apple Daily executives and two activists received sentences ranging from six years and three months to 10 years under the same law.
- •Lai has already been jailed for more than five years, with prior convictions for fraud and unauthorized assemblies; he denies using foreign contacts to influence policy.