On December 16, 2025, media mogul Jimmy Lai, founder of Next Digital, was found guilty of conspiring with foreign forces and inciting subversion through publications. The last British Governor of Hong Kong, Christopher Francis Patten, expressed shock but not surprise at the verdict. He believes that the Chinese Communist Party’s disdain for Jimmy Lai stems from his courageous stand against oppression, urging more people to speak up for him.
Patten issued a statement through the Hong Kong Watch, one of his sponsors, stating that the court’s decision violates the commitments made in the Sino-British Joint Declaration. He criticized the political-appointed judges and the lack of a jury as evidence of Beijing’s disregard for the agreement and freedom.
Moreover, Patten highlighted how Jimmy Lai’s personal history resonates with many Hong Kong people, as someone who fled Communist rule in China to enjoy economic and political freedom in colonial Hong Kong. Lai became a fervent advocate defending the values that made Hong Kong a successful model of economic and political freedom. Patten emphasized that Beijing and its puppet government in Hong Kong particularly despise those who bravely stand up against them.
Patten reflected on the profound implications of the case, emphasizing that what the Chinese Communist Party truly fears are the freedoms that make Hong Kong unique, which will eventually bring change to China itself. He expressed hope that this change can be achieved without causing upheaval.
As a Catholic, Patten pointed out that Jimmy Lai has been targeted by the CCP, deprived of his rights as a devout Catholic to participate in Mass and receive Holy Communion in prison. Patten called on the Catholic Church to speak out regarding Lai’s denial of practicing his faith in prison.
Patten mentioned meeting Jimmy Lai’s son, and receiving messages from Lai’s wife, assuring them that all who believe in human rights and conscience will continue to advocate for Lai’s release. He described Jimmy Lai as one of the most representative cases of a dissident persecuted by authoritarian regimes, urging those who believe in the CCP’s credibility or reform capacities to remember Jimmy Lai’s case.
In a final plea, Patten encouraged as many people as possible to speak out for Jimmy Lai this Christmas and called on all Christians to pray for him during this special time.
On another front, Hong Kong Watch and over 30 civil society organizations have jointly sent a petition letter to the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, urging him to push for the release of British citizen Jimmy Lai. The letter advised Starmer to demand Lai’s release, citing successful negotiations in other countries like Canada, Ireland, and Australia that led to the release of their citizens from Chinese prisons. Starmer is expected to visit Beijing in late January next year, though the exact date has not been confirmed publicly. The letter urged him to make the release of Jimmy Lai a condition for any trade agreements negotiated during his visit.
The signatory organizations include the Hong Kong Free Press Foundation (CFHK), Hong Kong Democratic Council (HKDC), the Stand With Hong Kong Team (SWHK), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Index on Censorship, World Uyghur Congress, and PEN International.