19 Dec 2025法庭線#7713
Jimmy Lai case | Verdict-day and judgment coverage: key points from the 855-page judgment
還押逾 5 年的壹傳媒創辦人黎智英，周一（15 日）被裁定串謀勾結外力、煽動 3 罪成，與另外 8 被告續還押至明年一月中處理求情。判詞指，黎長年對中國心懷怨恨，指他無論在《國安法》實施前後，唯一意圖是尋求中共倒台，又指在《國安法》後，雖然黎請求制裁時變得含蓄及隱晦，他的意圖依然如故。
究竟 855 頁判詞有何重點？法官眼中的《蘋果》代表甚麼？為何認為黎怨恨中國？判詞又為何要大篇幅提及黎智英在《國安法》生效前的言行？
《法庭線》整合案件裁決日，以及判詞相關的所有報道，方便讀者重溫。
Media tycoon and Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai, who has been remanded in custody for more than five years, was convicted on Monday (15th) of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and three counts of sedition. He and the other eight defendants were remanded in custody until mid-January next year for mitigation submissions. The judgment said Lai had harboured resentment towards China for many years, and that his sole intention, both before and after the National Security Law came into force, was to seek the downfall of the Chinese Communist Party. It also said that although Lai became more implicit and obscure in calling for sanctions after the National Security Law took effect, his intention remained unchanged.
What are the key points in the 855-page judgment? What did Apple Daily represent in the judges’ eyes? Why did they find that Lai resented China? And why did the judgment devote extensive coverage to Lai’s words and actions before the National Security Law came into force?
The Witness has brought together all its coverage of the case’s verdict day and the judgment, allowing readers to revisit the proceedings.
18 Dec 2025法庭線#7708
Young man admits four offences including old sedition and is sentenced to training centre; granted bail during sentence, High Court allows appeal and orders no further detention
現年 21 歲青年被指 2020 至 2022 年篡改國歌歌詞、網上發布「港獨」口號等，他爭議法律議題失敗後承認舊煽動罪等 4 罪，被判入教導所，周四（18 日）於高等法院處理刑罰上訴。
上訴方指，計及還押及在教導所日子，青年已被羈留約 9 個月，有足夠阻嚇性，建議改判短期監禁及以緩刑處理。律政司則指教導所羈留時間為 3 年，青年中途獲准保釋等候上訴，「就算未坐爆都要繼續」，惟法庭亦可考慮改判勞教中心或監禁。
法官短暫退庭考慮後指本案情況特殊，裁定刑罰上訴得直，撤銷原審的教導所命令，青年即時釋放、毋須再服刑，官稍後頒布判詞。青年聞判面露微笑。翻查資料，本案為首宗「舊煽動罪」被告方上訴得直的案件。
A 21-year-old man was accused of altering the lyrics of the national anthem and posting “Hong Kong independence” slogans online between 2020 and 2022. After unsuccessfully challenging legal issues, he admitted four offences including an old sedition offence and was sentenced to a training centre. His sentence appeal was heard at the High Court on Thursday (18th).
16 Dec 2025法庭線#7695
Jimmy Lai convicted and awaiting sentencing; Trump says he asked Xi Jinping to release him, as Foreign Ministry condemns foreign governments for smearing Hong Kong under the guise of human rights and freedom
現年 78 歲的黎智英，是《國安法》下最年長被告，至今已還押 5 年，周一（15 日）被裁定串謀勾結外力等罪成。其子女多次對外表示父親身體惡化、時日無多，要求外國政府協助他獲釋。美國總統特朗普在香港時間周二（16 日）表示，對黎被定罪「感到非常難過」，又稱自己曾要求國家主席習近平釋放黎智英。美國務卿盧比奧亦促基於人道考慮釋放黎智英。
外交部駐港公署批評外國政府「說三道四」，指「個別國家和政客，長期以來打著『人權』『自由』幌子抹黑香港法治，妄圖破壞香港繁榮穩定、干涉中國內政。」另外，外交部駐英大使約見英國外交官，就英外相對黎案發言提出「嚴正交涉」，指「英國對香港的殖民統治早已結束，英方沒有權利、沒有資格對香港事務說三道四、橫加干涉。」
Jimmy Lai, 78, is the oldest defendant prosecuted under the National Security Law. He has been remanded in custody for five years and was found guilty on Monday (15th) of conspiracy to collude with external forces and other offences. His children have repeatedly said publicly that their father’s health is deteriorating and that he does not have much time left, and have called on foreign governments to help secure his release. US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday (16th), Hong Kong time, that he was “very saddened” by Lai’s conviction, and said he had asked President Xi Jinping to release him. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also urged that Lai be released on humanitarian grounds.
The Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong criticised foreign governments for “making irresponsible remarks”, saying that “certain countries and politicians have long used the guise of ‘human rights’ and ‘freedom’ to smear Hong Kong’s rule of law, in an attempt to undermine Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability and interfere in China’s internal affairs.” Separately, the Chinese ambassador to the United Kingdom summoned a British diplomat and made “serious representations” over the British foreign secretary’s remarks on Lai’s case, saying that “Britain’s colonial rule over Hong Kong ended long ago, and the British side has neither the right nor the qualification to make irresponsible remarks about or interfere arbitrarily in Hong Kong affairs.”
16 Dec 2025法庭線#7698
Jimmy Lai convicted and awaiting sentencing; judgment says he understood IPAC’s operations and was not credible, while IPAC says it never worked with him
壹傳媒創辦人黎智英國安案，周一（15 日）被裁定罪成。黎在審訊供稱不認識「對中政策跨國議會聯盟」（IPAC），法官引述報道、訊息、Twitter 帖文反駁，指黎了解 IPAC 運作，並透過創辦人收到活動資料，裁定黎不可信。（見報道）
IPAC 發聲明指，黎被錯誤指控曾參與 IPAC 的活動，甚至有 IPAC 成員在案中被列為串謀者，強調組織從未與黎合作，譴責裁決不公。特區政府周一發稿指，多個美西方國家、反華媒體、組織及政客，在頒下黎智英案定罪判決後，完全無視法治精神，作出種種失實言論和污衊抹黑，表示強烈不滿和反對。
Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai was found guilty on Monday (15th) in his national security case. During the trial, Lai testified that he did not know the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC). The judge cited reports, messages and Twitter posts in rebuttal, saying Lai understood how IPAC operated and had received information about its activities through its founder, and found Lai not credible. (See report.)
IPAC said in a statement that Lai had been wrongly accused of participating in its activities, and that an IPAC member had even been listed as a co-conspirator in the case. It stressed that the organisation had never worked with Lai and condemned the verdict as unjust. The HKSAR Government said in a statement on Monday that, after the conviction judgment in the Lai case was handed down, various US and Western countries, anti-China media outlets, organisations and politicians had completely disregarded the rule of law and made various untrue and defamatory statements, expressing strong dissatisfaction and opposition.
16 Dec 2025集誌社#7699
Apple Daily Case Verdict｜Government Strongly Condemns HKJA for Whitewashing Jimmy Lai: Confusing the Public and Smearing the HKSAR
前壹傳媒集團創辦人黎智英被裁定串謀勾結外國勢力等三罪罪成，香港記者協會昨（15日）表示對裁決表示極度遺憾，指黎智英和《蘋果》編採人員因新聞工作身陷囹圄，是「對香港新聞界造成不可逆轉傷害」。特區政府今早發稿強烈譴責記協和一眾反華外媒，「誤導公眾及為黎智英洗白」，批評記協無公信力和認受性而自詡為新聞界代表「令人不齒」，故意將黎智英案與新聞自由混為一談，借不同案件炒作詆譭人權和法治狀況，污衊香港特區，「是極度卑劣的政治操作」。記協的帖文內容目前已未能在 Facebook 顯示。
Jimmy Lai, founder of the former Next Digital group, was convicted of three offences, including conspiracy to collude with foreign forces. The Hong Kong Journalists Association said yesterday (15th) that it was extremely disappointed by the verdict, claiming that Lai and the Apple Daily editorial staff had been imprisoned because of their journalistic work, causing “irreversible harm to Hong Kong’s press corps.” In a statement this morning, the HKSAR Government strongly condemned the HKJA and a number of anti-China foreign media outlets for “misleading the public and whitewashing Jimmy Lai.” It criticised the HKJA, saying that its lack of credibility and legitimacy, while styling itself as a representative of the journalism sector, was “despicable”; that it had deliberately conflated the Jimmy Lai case with press freedom; and that it had used different cases to sensationalise and denigrate the human rights and rule-of-law situation, thereby smearing the HKSAR. It described this as “an extremely despicable political operation.” The HKJA’s post can currently no longer be displayed on Facebook.
16 Dec 2025法庭線#7703
Jimmy Lai Found Guilty and Awaits Sentencing; 15 Policy Bureaux and Six Disciplined Services Support Verdict
已還押 5 年的黎智英周一（15 日）被裁定串謀勾結外力等罪成，港澳辦、中聯辦、國安公署、特首李家超等先後回應，批評黎智英「可恥、歹毒」，另外多名司局長、6 支紀律部隊均有發文支持裁決。
15 個政策局中，除保安局局長鄧炳強周一已見記者回應，其餘 14 個政策局均透過社交媒體發文，當中以公務員事務局局長楊何蓓茵的帖文最長，達 1,100 字，提到晚清時期「多國侵華掠奪令民不聊生⋯這些歷史事件，讓後世的我們明白維護國家安全的重要。」
另外，飛行服務隊指判決彰顯法治精神，會繼續與各紀律部隊緊密合作，維護國家安全。懲教署則指會嚴防監獄成為「反中亂港」基地。
Jimmy Lai, who has been remanded in custody for five years, was found guilty on Monday (the 15th) of conspiracy to collude with external forces and other offences. The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, the Liaison Office, the Office for Safeguarding National Security, Chief Executive John Lee and others responded in turn, criticising Lai as “shameful” and “vicious”. Several bureau secretaries and all six disciplined services also issued statements supporting the verdict.
Of the 15 policy bureaux, all except Secretary for Security Chris Tang, who spoke to reporters on Monday, issued statements on social media. The longest post, by Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Pui-yin, was 1,100 Chinese characters long. It referred to how, during the late Qing period, “the invasions and plunder of China by many countries left the people unable to make a living ... These historical events have enabled us in later generations to understand the importance of safeguarding national security.”
The Government Flying Service said the judgment demonstrated the spirit of the rule of law and that it would continue to work closely with the disciplined services to safeguard national security. The Correctional Services Department said it would take strict precautions to prevent prisons from becoming bases for “anti-China and destabilise Hong Kong” activities.
15 Dec 2025法庭線#7683
Jimmy Lai found guilty; son urges UK to make his release a precondition for closer ties with China, while daughter worries about his health
黎智英被裁定串謀勾結外力等罪成，兒子黎崇恩及「國際法律團隊」在英國召開記者會回應裁決。黎崇恩稱父親的案件是「《國安法》被武器化，對付異見人士」的例子，呼籲英國政府應把父親獲釋，作為與中國建立更緊密關係的前設。
「國際法律團隊」亦在網上刊出黎智英女兒黎采的聲明，黎采指過去幾年目睹父親健康惡化，「我們非常擔心他還能承受多久」。她稱期望美國能繼續施壓，「讓父親得以回到家人身邊，安靜地康復。」
外交部指，敦促外國尊重中國主權，尊重香港法治，「不得以任何形式干預」。保安局局長鄧炳強指，指稱黎得不到適切服務的指控「全是謊言」。
Jimmy Lai was found guilty of conspiracy to collude with external forces and other offences. His son, Sebastien Lai, and the “International Legal Team” held a press conference in the United Kingdom to respond to the verdict. Sebastien Lai said his father’s case was an example of the National Security Law being “weaponised against dissidents”, and urged the British government to make his father’s release a precondition for establishing closer relations with China.
The “International Legal Team” also published a statement online by Lai’s daughter, Claire Lai. She said she had witnessed her father’s deteriorating health over the past few years and that “we are extremely worried about how much longer he can endure”. She said she hoped the United States would continue to apply pressure “so that my father can return to his family and recover peacefully”.
The Foreign Ministry said it urged foreign countries to respect China’s sovereignty and Hong Kong’s rule of law and “must not interfere in any form”. Secretary for Security Chris Tang said allegations that Lai had not received appropriate services “are all lies”.
15 Dec 2025法庭線#7686
16-year-old admits conspiracy to secede; court calls him an “active participant” in Nation-Building Alliance operations and sentences him to 42 months
3 名男子被指是「香港民主建國聯盟」成員、推動「港獨」，被控《國安法》下「串謀分裂國家」罪，男生早前承認控罪，周一（15 日）判刑。其中案發時 15 歲，現 16 歲男生，在 2024 年 11 月至今年 7 月期間，在社交媒體宣傳「建國聯」、「香港議會選舉」。電話紀錄另顯示，他參與「建國聯」的內部討論，亦曾向「建國聯」創辦人稱，有意為「建國聯」成立一個「情報部門」，以收集香港警察資料。
法官練錦鴻判刑時指，被告屬於「積極參與者」的級數。雖然被告發布的貼文反應不多，但「星星之火，可以燎原，法庭必須在未燎原（前）將之消滅」，而惟一方式是重罰。官又指，法庭認為被告不是少不更事，且頭腦清晰、成熟，不接納被告以患有自閉症為減刑理由，遂判處 42 個月監禁。
Three men, alleged to be members of the Hong Kong Democratic Nation-Building Alliance and to have promoted “Hong Kong independence”, were charged with conspiracy to secede under the National Security Law. The boy admitted the charge earlier and was sentenced on Monday (the 15th). He was 15 at the time of the offences and is now 16. Between November 2024 and July this year, he promoted the Nation-Building Alliance and the “Hong Kong Parliament election” on social media. Phone records also showed that he took part in the Alliance’s internal discussions and told its founder that he intended to establish an “intelligence department” for the Alliance to collect information about the Hong Kong Police.
In sentencing, Judge Stanley Chan said the defendant was in the category of an “active participant”. Although the posts published by the defendant received little response, “a single spark can start a prairie fire, and the court must extinguish it before it starts a prairie fire”; the only way to do so was to impose a heavy sentence. The judge also said the court considered that the defendant was not young and inexperienced, and that he was clear-minded and mature. The court did not accept his autism as a mitigating factor and sentenced him to 42 months’ imprisonment.
15 Dec 2025香港人權資訊中心#7687
Response to Verdict in Jimmy Lai Case
12月15日，香港原訟法庭就壹傳媒創辦人黎智英被控「串謀勾結外國勢力危害國家安全罪」及「串謀發布煽動刊物罪」共三項控罪作出裁決，裁定罪名成立。黎智英自2020年12月31日被收押至今，已在獄中逾1800日。
香港人權資訊中心就黎智英案裁決作出以下回應：
「法庭對黎智英的定罪完全違反《公民權利和政治權利國際公約》（《公約》）對言論自由及新聞自由的保障，是以國家安全之名對基本人權的嚴重侵害。
On December 15, Hong Kong’s Court of First Instance delivered its verdict on three charges against Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai: conspiracy to collude with a foreign country or external elements to endanger national security and conspiracy to publish seditious publications. It found him guilty. Lai has been held in custody since December 31, 2020, and has spent more than 1,800 days in prison.
The Hong Kong Human Rights Information Centre issued the following response to the verdict in the Jimmy Lai case:
“The court’s conviction of Jimmy Lai completely violates the protections for freedom of expression and freedom of the press under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (the ‘Covenant’), and constitutes a serious infringement of fundamental human rights in the name of national security.”
15 Dec 2025集誌社#7688
Apple Daily Case Verdict | More Than 100 Queue Outside Court; Suspected Queueing Gangs Move In 24 Hours Early; Mainland Student Attends for First Time
前壹傳媒集團創辦人黎智英、與《蘋果日報》三公司、六名編採人員被控「串謀勾結外國勢力」、「串謀發布煽動刊物」等罪；本案是首宗勾結外國勢力罪的審訊，案件橫跨五年，今早（15日）10 時於西九龍裁判法院頒下裁決。早上約八時，已有逾百人在庭外排隊等候，警方加強部署和巡查，不過約第 2 至 60 位都懷疑被「排隊黨」佔據，旁聽師相信只能進入延伸庭。
旁聽多年的「姨婆」說，昨日原來預計 11 點到庭外排隊，未料到場時已有數十名懷疑排隊黨，「都好後悔我自己唔早啲嚟，好失望」，她期望身體狀況變差的黎智英可獲釋就醫。有首次旁聽的內地生說，自 2019 年後一直關心香港時事，形容今日的香港發展非他所願。他又評價《蘋果》指，過去其存在沒能幫助化解中港矛盾，然而「畢竟一個媒體，可能佢反中、反共，點都好，存在本身已經係一種言論自由嘅表現。」
Former Next Digital Group founder Jimmy Lai, three companies of Apple Daily and six editorial staff members were charged with offences including conspiracy to collude with a foreign country and conspiracy to publish seditious publications. The case is the first trial involving the offence of conspiracy to collude with a foreign country and spans five years. The verdict was delivered at 10 a.m. today (15th) at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts. At around 8 a.m., more than 100 people were already queuing outside the court. Police stepped up deployment and patrols, but positions approximately 2 to 60 were suspected to have been taken by “queueing gangs”, leading court observers to believe they could only enter the overflow courtroom.
“Auntie”, who has attended hearings for years, said she had originally planned to queue outside the court at 11 a.m. yesterday, but found dozens of suspected queueing-gang members already there when she arrived. “I really regret not coming earlier. I’m very disappointed,” she said. She hoped that Jimmy Lai, whose health has deteriorated, could be released to receive medical treatment. A mainland student attending a hearing for the first time said he had followed Hong Kong current affairs since 2019 and described the direction Hong Kong had taken today as not what he wanted. Commenting on Apple Daily, he said its existence in the past had failed to help resolve conflicts between Hong Kong and the mainland, but added: “After all, it was a media outlet. It might have been anti-China or anti-Communist—whatever the case, its very existence was already an expression of freedom of speech.”
Translations are supplied by the source workbook. Consult the original reporting for context.
