Media tycoon Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment on February 9 for two counts of conspiring to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security and one count of conspiring to publish seditious material, with courtroom spectators cheering the verdict as justice served.

The 47-page sentencing statement described Lai as the mastermind behind carefully planned and premeditated offenses that actively solicited foreign sanctions against Hong Kong and mainland officials, constituting serious crimes under the National Security Law. 

The court raised the starting points for the collusion charges from 15 years to 18 years each and the sedition charge from 21 months to 23 months, resulting in a total of 20 years after considering aggravating factors.

Eight other defendants who pleaded guilty received sentences ranging from 6 years 3 months to 10 years. Three Apple Daily-related companies were fined over HK$9 million in total.

Court observers stood and applauded upon hearing the sentences, viewing the heavy penalty as fitting for Lai's role in orchestrating acts that severely harmed national security and society. 

Political figures described him as having used Apple Daily to spread rumors, incite hatred, glorify violence and fuel the 2019 unrest, causing widespread social and economic damage.

The court emphasized the offenses' scale, duration, premeditation and international scope, ruling them to be in the most serious category. 

Lai's public and covert calls for foreign sanctions were found to have directly prompted hostile actions against Hong Kong and officials.

Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung rejected calls for Lai's medical parole or transfer to Britain, stating that as a Chinese national who committed offenses in Hong Kong, he should serve his sentence here. 

No statutory medical parole exists, and prison medical reports confirm Lai receives adequate professional care, with his health stable under treatment.

Claims of inhumane solitary confinement were disproved; Lai repeatedly requested separation from other inmates voluntarily due to safety concerns. 

He appeared alert and walked unaided into court for sentencing, countering Western media portrayals of frailty.

Legal experts praised the 156-day open trial, involving 52 days of Lai's defense, over 2,200 exhibits, 80,000+ pages of documents and 14 witnesses, as fair, transparent and fully compliant with common law principles. 

Former Secretary for Justice Elsie Leung Oi-sie called the reasoning robust and reasonable; Executive Council member Ronny Tong Ka-wah highlighted the offenses' broad societal impact and deterrent value.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu noted that Lai and Apple Daily misled many, especially the youth, into radical and violent paths during the unrest, with over 2,400 people facing legal consequences for related crimes by late last year.

The Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong urged external forces to respect China's sovereignty and cease interfering in judicial affairs after Lai's family and overseas groups renewed criticism and pressure campaigns.