Overview

• On August 22, a High Court judge rejected the contention that Lai’s anti‑China comments were simply protected opinion, invoking Western protest crackdowns to argue free expression has limits.
• The three‑judge panel cautioned against examining remarks in isolation and suggested some statements could be read as disguised requests to foreign powers.
• Defense lawyer Robert Pang maintained that Lai’s posts and broadcasts were nothing more than “armchair punditry,” continuing closing submissions in the non‑jury proceeding.
• Prosecutors cite 161 Apple Daily articles and Lai’s online statements to support collusion and seditious‑publication charges that he denies, offenses that carry a possible life sentence.
• Lai was fitted with a heart‑rate monitor and given medication after reported palpitations, while rights groups and Western officials, including President Donald Trump, pressed for his release and Hong Kong authorities rejected outside criticism.