Jimmy Lai's Case Exposes Hong Kong's Shrinking Press Freedom

• Media mogul Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years for foreign collusion and seditious publication under Hong Kong's national security law.
• Lai's Apple Daily, a pro-democracy tabloid, was forced to close after police raids and arrests of its senior management.
• Hong Kong's press freedom ranking plummeted from 18th in 2002 to 140th in 2025, reflecting a shriveling media ecosystem.
• Other outlets like Stand News and CitizenNews ceased operations, and Initium relocated due to diminishing freedoms.
• Journalists face harassment, intimidation, and visa denials, with hundreds losing jobs since the national security law's enactment.