Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has remained in good health while in custody, with his rights fully protected under a solitary confinement arrangement he personally requested, a Hong Kong court heard on Monday.

Prosecutors told the court that a medical report issued by the Correctional Services Department last Friday showed Lai is monitored daily by medical staff to ensure his condition remains stable.

At around 10am, Lai entered the courtroom without assistance. He placed his hands together in a respectful gesture and waved toward the public gallery.

The report noted that Lai had previously reported symptoms including toothache, heart palpitations, and hearing loss, all of which had been addressed through medical follow-ups and ongoing close monitoring.

The defense, however, said Lai had experienced significant weight loss during his imprisonment, raising concerns about his health.

Judge Alex Lee Wan-tang said the medical report showed only a minimal decrease in Lai’s weight compared with when he was first detained. Prosecutors added that Lai’s current weight still falls within the “obese” range based on Asian male BMI standards.

Judge Lee also noted that medical records indicated Lai’s weight had increased by about four kilograms between April 2024 and January 2026, a point acknowledged by the defense.

Judge Susana Maria D’Almada Remedios asked whether Lai had ever complained about the medical care he received while in custody. His lawyer, Robert Pang Yiu-hung, confirmed that Lai had never lodged any such complaints.

Addressing the issue of solitary confinement, prosecutors told the court the arrangement was initiated at Lai’s own request, citing his wish to avoid harassment by other inmates. The Correctional Services Department has confirmed his consent on a monthly basis and each time he was transferred to a new detention facility.

Prosecutors said Lai has never asked to terminate the arrangement and that it has not affected his rights under the Prisons Ordinance, including family visits, religious services, outdoor exercise, medical care, and psychological counseling.

Meanwhile, former Stand With Hong Kong members Wayland Chan Tsz-wah and Andy Li Yu-hin, who pleaded guilty in July 2021 and testified against Lai, reaffirmed their guilty pleas.

Chan’s lawyer said his client admitted the offenses were “very serious” and accepted that a lengthy prison term was inevitable. The defense argued that Lai was the mastermind behind the operation and that Chan was merely a participant, suggesting a starting point of 12 to 15 years for Chan’s sentence.

Li’s lawyer said his client admitted being a core member of the group and serving as its working leader, while maintaining that Lai and his assistant, Mark Simon, were responsible for financing and directing the activities.

The mitigation hearing is scheduled to last four days, with the court to also hear submissions from co-defendants Cheung Kim-hung, Chan Pui-man, Law Wai-kwong, Lam Man-chung, Fung Wai-kong, and Yeung Ching-kee.