A Hong Kong court on Friday began hearing closing arguments in the national security trial of pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai, following a one-day delay because of bad weather.

The 77-year-old founder of the Apple Daily newspaper is charged with foreign collusion under Hong Kong’s national security law, which Beijing imposed following huge and sometimes violent pro-democracy protests in 2019.

The sprawling trial, which began in December 2023, is entering its final stages as Western nations and rights groups continue to call for Lai’s release.

Aside from the collusion offence — which could land him in prison for life — Lai is also charged with “seditious publication” related to 161 op-eds carrying his byline.

Despite being kept behind bars since December 2020, the tycoon gave spiri

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