Hong Kong Tycoon Jimmy Lai Convicted in Landmark Security Trial

A Hong Kong court convicted media tycoon Jimmy Lai of national security offences on Monday. The verdict ends a landmark trial closely watched around the world. Lai, 78, rose from child labourer to billionaire. He later used his wealth and influence to promote democracy in Hong Kong. This activism ultimately put him in direct conflict with authorities in Beijing. The verdict was widely expected. Lai was a primary target of a major crackdown on Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement. Chinese authorities have long described him as a traitor and a criminal. His dramatic life story—from poverty to power to prison—mirrors Hong Kong's own turbulent journey in recent years.