Foreign

U.S. Calls Jimmy Lai Verdict Tragic as Global Pressure Mounts on Hong Kong

THE UNITED STATES SAID THE HONG KONG HIGH COURT’S DECISION TO IMPRISON JIMMY LAI WAS AN UNJUST AND TRAGIC CONCLUSION TO THE CASE, WHICH STARTED IN DECEMBER 2023.

By Rachel Salami

1 min read 7 views Updated Oct 12, 2026
THE UNITED STATES HAS SAID THE HONG KONG HIGH COURT’S DECISION TO IMPRISON JIMMY LAI WAS AN UNJUST AND TRAGIC CONCLUSION TO THE CASE, WHICH STARTED IN DECEMBER 2023.

REPORT HAS IT THAT THE 78-YEAR-OLD LAI WAS ACCUSED OF CONSPIRACY TO COLLUDE WITH FOREIGN FORCES AND CONSPIRACY TO DISTRIBUTE SEDITIOUS PUBLICATIONS.

THE U.S., IN ITS REACTION, SAID THE VERDICT SHOWS THAT BEIJING WILL GO TO EXTRAORDINARY LENGTHS TO SUPPRESS THOSE WHO ADVOCATE FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS IN HONG KONG.

SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO NOTED THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAD SET ASIDE THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS IT MADE IN THE 1984 SINO BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION WHILE FOREIGN SECRETARY YVETTE COOPER EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT LAI’S HEALTH AND A PRISON TERM TANTAMOUNT TO A LIFE SENTENCE AND FURTHER URGED HONG KONG TO END THE APPALLING ORDEAL AND FREE LAI ON HUMANITARIAN GROUNDS.

MEANWHILE, PRIME MINISTER KEIR STARMER HAS DISCUSSED THE CASE WITH PRESIDENT XI JINPING DURING HIS VISIT TO CHINA WHILE FURTHER DIPLOMATIC ENGAGEMENTS ARE NOW EXPECTED FOLLOWING THE 20-YEAR SENTENCING.

Your reaction

Pass it on

Share this story

Social links open in a new tab

Story guide

Understand this story

Summary

THE UNITED STATES SAID THE HONG KONG HIGH COURT’S DECISION TO IMPRISON JIMMY LAI WAS AN UNJUST AND TRAGIC CONCLUSION TO THE CASE, WHICH STARTED IN DECEMBER 2023. THE UNITED STATES HAS SAID THE HONG KONG HIGH COURT’S DECISION TO IMPRISON JIMMY LAI WAS AN UNJUST AND TRAGIC CONCLUSION TO THE CASE, WHICH STARTED IN DECEMBER 2023.REPORT HAS...

Key takeaways
  • THE UNITED STATES SAID THE HONG KONG HIGH COURT’S DECISION TO IMPRISON JIMMY LAI WAS AN UNJUST AND TRAGIC CONCLUSION TO THE CASE, WHICH STARTED IN DECEMBER 2023.
  • THE UNITED STATES HAS SAID THE HONG KONG HIGH COURT’S DECISION TO IMPRISON JIMMY LAI WAS AN UNJUST AND TRAGIC CONCLUSION TO THE CASE, WHICH STARTED IN DECEMBER 2023.REPORT HAS IT THAT THE 78-YEAR-OLD LAI WAS ACCUSED OF CONSPIRACY TO COLLUDE WITH FOREIGN FORCES AND CONSPIRACY TO DISTRIBUTE SEDITIOUS PUBLICATIONS.THE U.S., IN ITS REACTION, SAID THE VERDICT SHOWS THAT BEIJING WILL GO TO EXTRAORDINARY LENGTHS TO SUPPRESS THOSE WHO ADVOCATE FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS IN HONG KONG.SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO NOTED THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAD SET ASIDE THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS IT MADE IN THE 1984 SINO BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION WHILE FOREIGN SECRETARY YVETTE COOPER EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT LAI’S HEALTH AND A PRISON TERM TANTAMOUNT TO A LIFE SENTENCE AND FURTHER URGED HONG KONG TO END THE APPALLING ORDEAL AND FREE LAI ON HUMANITARIAN GROUNDS.MEANWHILE, PRIME MINISTER KEIR STARMER HAS DISCUSSED THE CASE WITH PRESIDENT XI JINPING DURING HIS VISIT TO CHINA WHILE FURTHER DIPLOMATIC ENGAGEMENTS ARE NOW EXPECTED FOLLOWING THE 20-YEAR SENTENCING.
  • This story is filed under Foreign on Glow 99.1 FM.
Article FAQ

What is this story about?

THE UNITED STATES SAID THE HONG KONG HIGH COURT’S DECISION TO IMPRISON JIMMY LAI WAS AN UNJUST AND TRAGIC CONCLUSION TO THE CASE, WHICH STARTED IN DECEMBER 2023. THE UNITED STATES HAS SAID THE HONG KONG HIGH COURT’S DECISION TO IMPRISON JIMMY LAI WAS AN UNJUST AND TRAGIC CONCLUSION TO THE CASE, WHICH STARTED IN DECEMBER 2023.REPORT HAS...

Who published this story?

Glow 99.1 FM published this story with Rachel Salami listed as author.

When was it published?

February 10, 2026

Emergency Plenary: APC’s Ayekooto Tells Senate to Be Firm on Electoral Act

Continue reading

Emergency Plenary: APC’s Ayekooto Tells Senate to Be Firm on Electoral Act

Politics · 1 min readRead next

Join the conversation

Comments (0)

No comments yet. Start the conversation.

Keep reading

Reader favourites

  1. 01Portugal to Face Super Eagles ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup214 views
  2. 02Grammy Awards 2026: Full Winners List, Historic Wins & Major Snubs183 views
  3. 03SUSPECTED JIHADISTS ATTACK NIAMEY AIRPORT162 views
  4. 04Iran Threatens US After Trump’s Warning156 views