Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said Jimmy Lai, the 78-year-old founder of Apple Daily, will serve his 20-year jail term in Hong Kong for collusion with foreign forces and other charges, dismissing any possibility of transfer to Britain.

The security chief stated today that the 20-year prison sentence handed to Lai fully demonstrates the gravity of his offenses, including two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and a third charge of conspiracy to print seditious material.

The court increased the original 15-year term on each collusion count to 18 years before arriving at the total sentence.

Tang described the judgment as upholding justice and protecting Hong Kong’s core values.

When asked about potential British requests to transfer Lai under any prisoner transfer agreement, Tang stressed that Lai is Chinese, committed the crimes in Hong Kong, and it is entirely reasonable for him to serve his sentence locally.

The government plans to apply to the court for confiscation orders to seize crime proceeds linked to the case. Tang confirmed that proceedings will begin soon to remove the three Apple Daily-related listed companies from the Companies Registry.

Authorities have already frozen assets belonging to Lai and the companies, and confiscation procedures will move forward quickly under the law.

On the possibility of a one-third sentence reduction for good behavior, Tang said the Commissioner of Correctional Services will assess each case based on actual circumstances.

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Bar Association and the Law Society of Hong Kong reaffirmed their confidence in the independence and integrity of the city’s judiciary.