The city's pro-democracy campaigner and media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been convicted of colluding with foreign forces under the territory's disputed NSL.
The 78-year-old, who has been in jail since December 2020, had pleaded not guilty. He faces life in prison and is expected to be sentenced early next year.
The tribunal determined that Lai utilized his now-closed Apple Daily newspaper as part of a broader effort to lobby overseas administrations to enact sanctions on Hong Kong and China.
The city's chief executive applauded the ruling, stating that Lai's actions "damaged the country's well-being and the welfare of Hong Kongers," while rights groups called it "a harsh judicial farce."
The Charges and Court Case
There is "no doubt" that Jimmy Lai "held animosity" for the People's Republic of China, the presiding judge said, referencing his "constant appeal to the US to help bring down the government."
When Lai testified previously, he rejected all accusations against him, asserting he had "never" used his foreign contacts to sway foreign policy on Hong Kong.
Lai, a British national and one of the fiercest detractors of the Chinese state, was a central player in the pro-freedom demonstrations that swept through Hong Kong in 2019.
The NSL was enacted in reaction and gave authorities broad powers to prosecute and jail people they considered a risk.
Monday's decision also convicted Lai of disseminating seditious material under a separate colonial-era law.
Global Response and Legal Scrutiny
"His spirit is okay," his legal counsel said after the judgment. "The ruling is so long that we'll need some time to study it first."
"Authorities targeted Jimmy Lai with the goal of silencing all those who dare to criticise the CCP," said a human rights organization's Asia Director.
Western governments, including the UK and US, have for years demanded Lai's release, which Beijing and Hong Kong have rejected.
A Test of Judicial Independence
Lai's trial was largely viewed as a test of court autonomy for Hong Kong's courts, which have been alleged of following Beijing's line.
Critics point to the hundreds of activists jailed under the NSL - and its nearly 100% success rate for prosecutors.
Bail is also frequently denied in NSL cases, despite concerns about deteriorating health raised by Lai's family and advocates.
The Hong Kong government has also been faulted for barring foreign lawyers from working on NSL cases without special approval.
From Businessman to Campaigner
Lai, who fled to Hong Kong as a teenager, got his footing as a businessman after creating an global apparel company.
His path as a pro-freedom campaigner started after the 1989 Tiananmen demonstrations in Beijing.
He started writing columns and went on to establish a string of widely-read pro-democracy publications.
Even now, many Hong Kongers see him as a leading voice for democracy, with dozens queuing to enter the court ahead of the verdict.
In his testimony, Lai had said he "never allowed" his newspaper's staff to promote Hong Kong independence, which he called a "conspiracy" and "too crazy to think about."
"The core values of Apple Daily are actually the fundamental principles of the people of Hong Kong," he had said, listing the "legal order, freedom, quest for self-governance, free expression."
