Jimmy Lai, a 78-year-old Hong Kong pro-democracy leader and founder of Apple Daily, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Monday under Beijing’s national security law. Lai was found guilty of foreign collusion and seditious publication. Rights groups call the verdict "profoundly unjust" and see it as part of China’s tough crackdown on Hong Kong activists. The national security law, introduced in 2020, criminalizes protests and subversion, with nearly 100% conviction rates. Lai was arrested in August 2020. His co-defendants, six Apple Daily editors and journalists, received sentences from over six years to 10 years. Other key trials continue. Three activists who organize yearly Tiananmen Square memorials were charged with inciting subversion and face up to 10 years jail. Amnesty International called this an effort to "punish those who refuse to forget the victims of the Tiananmen crackdown." The largest case involved the HK47 group, charged with plotting to overthrow the Hong Kong government. Forty-five members were jailed for up to 10 years in November 2023. Among them are noted figures like Joshua Wong and Benny Tai. Recent updates on key activists: - Benny Tai: 10 years in prison as deemed "mastermind" behind protests. - Joshua Wong: Sentenced to 4 years 8 months; faces new charges for alleged foreign collusion. - Nathan Law: Fled to the UK; granted asylum; wanted by Hong Kong police. - Agnes Chow: In Canada, jumped bail after jail and release. - Owen Chow: Jailed for nearly 8 years for protest involvement. - Leung Kwok-hung: Received 6 years 9 months; former legislator with a history of activism. - Gwyneth Ho: Journalist sentenced to 7 years for subversion. - Jimmy Sham: Released in May 2023 after 4 years; fought for LGBTQ+ rights in prison. Since the 2019 mass protests against Beijing's influence, many pro-democracy activists have been jailed, fled abroad, or continue to face legal battles. The national security law remains a strong tool for the government to suppress dissent in Hong Kong.