On 15 December 2025, British citizen Jimmy Lai was found guilty in his trial in Hong Kong, on two national security law charges of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and a charge of conspiracy to publish seditious material. He faces a sentence of up to life imprisonment. He has been imprisoned for 1,800 days, most of which in solitary confinement. He is 78 years old and in failing health. Unless he is released, he will almost certainly die in prison.

The Rights Practice, along with 32 other organisations, signed a joint letter to Rt Hon Keir Starmer MP, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, urging him to do everything in his power to free Jimmy Lai and let him reunite with his family. We urged the Prime Minister that when he visits the People’s Republic of China in the New Year, as reported in the press, any trade deal or economic concession offered to Beijing must be contingent upon the release of Jimmy Lai.

The UK government must be prepared to demonstrate that it will not sacrifice the freedom of its citizens in order to receive vague assurances and promises of trade and investment in return.

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