RSF condemns Lai verdict, cites Hong Kong press freedom slide
JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 16 December 2025 | JP Global Monitoring Desk
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Reporters Without Borders has condemned the guilty verdict against media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai, labeling the trial as a sham. The organization warns that this case reflects the ongoing decline of press freedom in Hong Kong, linked to national security laws.Summary
PARIS — Reporters Without Borders has condemned the guilty verdict against media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai, describing the proceedings as a sham trial and warning that the case illustrates the rapid erosion of press freedom in Hong Kong.
In a statement responding to the verdict, RSF said the prosecution exemplifies how national security cases are being used to silence independent journalism and deter investigative reporting linked to Hong Kong.
Hong Kong’s ranking plunge highlighted
RSF linked Lai’s conviction to Hong Kong’s sharp fall in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, where the territory is ranked 140th out of 180 countries and territories. The organization cited the case as concrete evidence of an environment increasingly hostile to critical and investigative media.
The press freedom group said the use of national security legislation has created a chilling effect, pushing newsrooms toward self-censorship and discouraging coverage of politically sensitive topics connected to Hong Kong and mainland China.
Risks for cross-border journalism
RSF also warned that Lai’s case has implications beyond Hong Kong, noting that the threat of prosecution and reputational damage now weighs heavily on foreign correspondents and regional outlets collaborating across borders.
For media organizations, RSF said the verdict underscores heightened legal, operational, and reputational risks when reporting from or about Hong Kong, particularly on governance, civil liberties, and national security issues.
The group reiterated its call for the protection of journalists and media owners facing prosecution for their reporting, urging governments and international bodies to closely monitor press freedom conditions in Hong Kong.
ATTRIBUTION: Reporting based on statements and data released by Reporters Without Borders
Key Points
- RSF condemned the Lai verdict as a sham trial
- Hong Kong ranked 140th out of 180 in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index
- RSF linked the case to the use of national security prosecutions against the media
- The organization warned of rising risks for local and international journalists
- Cross-border media collaboration involving Hong Kong faces growing pressure
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