Hong Kong’s high-profile national security trial of pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai was postponed due to severe weather, delaying closing arguments in a case with significant geopolitical implications.
Jimmy Lai, the 77-year-old founder of the shuttered Apple Daily newspaper, faces life imprisonment under Hong Kong’s national security law. The British citizen stands accused of colluding with foreign forces and sedition for his pro-democracy activism and criticism of Beijing. His trial has drawn international attention as a bellwether for Hong Kong’s judicial independence under Chinese rule.
The delay occurred on Thursday, August 14, 2025, when Typhoon Podul brought torrential rains to Hong Kong. The West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts cancelled proceedings as the city issued severe weather warnings. This marks another interruption in a trial that began in late 2024.
The postponement comes at a critical juncture, with closing arguments expected to span several days before a panel of judges deliberates on a verdict. The trial represents Hong Kong’s most significant national security case since Beijing imposed the controversial law in 2020 following mass pro-democracy protests.
The delay impacts multiple stakeholders: Lai’s legal team preparing final defenses, international observers monitoring judicial independence, and the Trump administration which has pledged to secure Lai’s release as part of US-China trade negotiations. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also repeatedly called for Lai’s freedom.
Legal experts note the unusual circumstances of the trial, including the absence of a jury and specially selected judges. Lai’s supporters express concern about his deteriorating health during prolonged solitary confinement, with his son Sebastien describing prison conditions as ‘a form of torture’.
What happens next depends on both weather conditions and geopolitical dynamics. Proceedings will resume once the typhoon passes, but the case remains entangled in US-China relations. President Trump has vowed to make Lai’s release a negotiation priority, though Beijing maintains the trial is an internal matter.
The outcome could establish precedents for how Hong Kong handles national security cases and influence foreign perceptions of the city’s rule of law. For Lai personally, now in his fourth year of detention, the delay prolongs an already grueling legal battle with life imprisonment at stake.