UK Foreign Secretary Condemns Hong Kong Jail Term for Pro-Democracy Campaigner
LONDON - February 9, 2026 - The UK Foreign Secretary condemned the 20-year jail sentence handed down to pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai by a Hong Kong court, calling it "tantamount to a life sentence," according to Sky News. The 78-year-old media tycoon and British citizen was found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of publishing seditious materials in December.
Lai's arrest occurred in August 2020, following China's imposition of a national security law after widespread anti-government protests in Hong Kong, as reported by Sky News. The news outlet also noted that the Foreign Secretary's statement highlighted the severity of the sentence.
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