Hong Kong’s leader, John Lee, publicly defended the 20-year prison sentence imposed on prominent pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai, saying the punishment was warranted in light of the harm Lai’s activities allegedly caused to Hong Kong and China.

Lee made the remarks on Tuesday as international criticism intensified following Lai’s sentencing under the city’s national security law, emphasising that the verdict upholds local legal principles and addresses threats to social stability.

Lee said Lai had sought foreign intervention and sanctions against China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, conduct he described as seriously damaging to the territory’s interests and public welfare.

He asserted that Lai used his former newspaper, Apple Daily, to foment division, incite hatred and undermine national security, arguing that the sentence demonstrated the rule of law and delivered justice for the broader community.

Lai, 78, was sentenced on February 9 to 20 years’ imprisonment after being convicted of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and to publish seditious material, in landmark proceedings under the 2020 national security law.

The ruling drew strong international reactions, with governments, rights groups and diplomatic bodies characterising the verdict as disproportionate and a significant blow to press freedom, though Hong Kong and mainland authorities have maintained the process was lawful and necessary.

In defending the outcome, Lee reiterated that the legal process was conducted openly and in accordance with evidence and statutes, dismissing assertions that Lai’s prosecution was politically motivated.

He said safeguarding national security remained a paramount duty of the Hong Kong government, and that actions threatening sovereignty would be met with firm enforcement.

Lee’s comments underscore a stark divergence between local authorities’ interpretation of the case and the international community’s concerns about civil liberties and the legal environment in the territory.