Foreign ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US, joined by the EU High Representative, have condemned the prosecution of Jimmy Lai under Hong Kong’s National Security Law following his guilty verdict on 15 December 2025. Published by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office on 17 December, the statement urges Hong Kong authorities to end such prosecutions and release Lai, citing concerns about deteriorating rights and freedoms and noting protections in the Basic Law.
Lai, the 78‑year‑old founder of Apple Daily and a British citizen, was convicted of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and conspiracy to publish seditious publications. He denies the charges and faces a potential life sentence, with sentencing to follow at a later hearing. These points have been set out in wire reports and contemporaneous coverage.
The Basic Law remains the constitutional framework for Hong Kong. Article 27 guarantees freedom of speech, of the press and of publication, as well as freedom of association, assembly, procession and demonstration. The G7 statement explicitly referenced these guarantees in the context of media freedom.
Understanding the legal basis is essential. The National Security Law (NSL) was introduced by China’s National People’s Congress Standing Committee and applied in Hong Kong by promulgation in the Gazette at 23:00 on 30 June 2020 under Article 18 of the Basic Law. The NSL created four offences-secession, subversion, terrorist activities and collusion with foreign countries-with life imprisonment available for the most serious cases.
Local legislation added further provisions in 2024. The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, enacted to fulfil Article 23 of the Basic Law, complements the 2020 NSL by covering treason, insurrection, sabotage, state secrets and espionage, and external interference. It also enables measures against ‘absconders’ overseas and provides for extended pre‑charge detention in specified circumstances. Authorities have since used these powers to specify individuals abroad and apply civil measures.
The UK government’s stated position is that the 1984 Sino‑British Joint Declaration remains a legally binding treaty registered at the United Nations, setting out Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy and rights for 50 years from 1997. In November 2020, the UK declared China in breach after the disqualification of lawmakers.
Hong Kong officials consistently reject foreign statements on the NSL and Article 23 as interference. For example, in April 2024 the HKSAR Government called a G7/EU statement “unfounded and biased”, arguing that safeguarding national security is a constitutional duty and that normal business activity is unaffected.
Policy takeaway: the G7 move is diplomatic censure rather than a legal instrument, but it signals coordinated pressure from major economies. Organisations with exposure to Hong Kong should review policies on public communications, staff travel and data handling in light of the NSL’s extraterritorial reach and the Article 23 offences and measures now in force.