Jimmy Lai Wins Fraud Appeal, But His 20-Year Sentence Stands

Jimmy Lai won a legal battle on Thursday, but it feels more like a consolation prize. Hong Kong's High Court overturned the 76-year-old media tycoon's fraud conviction, yet his 20-year prison sentence for national security violations remains untouched. The timing raises uncomfortable questions about Hong Kong's judicial system.

A Victory That Isn't

The Apple Daily founder's fraud appeal succeeded weeks after he received one of the harshest sentences under Beijing's national security law. Outside the courthouse, police maintained heavy security—a now-familiar sight that underscores how much Hong Kong has changed since 2019.

The UK responded to Lai's original 20-year sentence by expanding settlement visas for Hong Kongers. Over 120,000 have already relocated to Britain, voting with their feet on Hong Kong's future.

Two Courts, Two Standards?

This split verdict exposes a troubling pattern in Hong Kong's post-2020 legal landscape. How should we interpret courts that acquit on fraud but imprison for two decades on security charges?

Optimists see judicial independence still flickering. They argue the fraud appeal victory proves Hong Kong courts can still rule against the government when law, not politics, guides decisions.

Skeptics detect something more calculated: selective justice that grants meaningless wins while crushing political dissent. The recent rejection of appeals by the "Hong Kong 47" democracy activists suggests which interpretation carries more weight.

The International Calculation

Lai's case has become a litmus test for Hong Kong's autonomy under "One Country, Two Systems." Each court ruling sends signals far beyond Hong Kong's borders.

Western governments frame Lai as a press freedom martyr, using his treatment to justify sanctions and visa programs for Hong Kong emigrants. The UK's expanded settlement scheme essentially creates an escape route for those who see no future under Beijing's tightening grip.

Beijing views Lai as a foreign-backed separatist who got his just punishment. President Xi Jinping recently reminded Hong Kong's chief executive to prioritize "sovereignty and security"—code words that leave little room for dissent.