A court in Hong Kong has moved closer to sentencing prominent pro-democracy activist and media tycoon Jimmy Lai following days of arguments over whether he and his co-defendants should receive lighter penalties before formal sentencing.

Lai, the eighty-year-old founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, was convicted in December of conspiring with foreign forces and publishing seditious material under Hong Kong’s national security law, offences that carry a possible sentence of up to life imprisonment.

The recent mitigation hearings represented the final major judicial step before a sentence is imposed, but judges have not yet set a date for announcing Lai’s punishment.

During the proceedings, Lai’s lawyers and those representing his co-defendants, including several senior former Apple Daily staffers who pleaded guilty earlier, outlined arguments for reduced sentences based on factors such as cooperation with authorities, limited roles in the alleged offences and personal circumstances.

The panel of judges heard these pleas over multiple days, but indicated that legal complexities remain and that they would need time to deliberate before finalising a sentencing date.

Lai attended the hearings, at one point acknowledging supporters in the public gallery with a gesture of thanks as proceedings adjourned.

The trial has drawn intense local and international attention, becoming a flashpoint in broader concerns about civil liberties and press freedom in the city since the imposition of the national security law in 2020. Hong Kong authorities maintain that the case is rooted in legitimate security concerns and deny that it reflects an attack on media freedoms.

Lai has denied the charges, framing his prosecution as politically motivated and part of a wider crackdown on dissent.

His lengthy detention preceding the verdict, including extended periods in solitary confinement, has also been highlighted by his defence and observers as a factor relevant to sentencing considerations.

Officials have yet to announce when the court will formally deliver Lai’s sentence, but the close of the mitigation phase signals that the judiciary is nearing that next phase.

Legal analysts say the decision will be closely watched for its implications on Hong Kong’s legal landscape under the national security law and the future of political expression in the territory.

Supporters of Lai and global press freedom advocates have urged leniency given his age and health, while prosecutors argue that the severity of the offences warrants a substantial penalty.

Judges will now weigh these competing submissions ahead of issuing a sentence that could shape perceptions of Hong Kong’s justice system for years to come.