A Hong Kong court finished hearing closing arguments in the national security trial of pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai on Thursday, though a judge declined to say when a verdict will be reached.

The 77-year-old founder of the now-shut Apple Daily newspaper has been behind bars since late 2020 as his case made its way through the courts, with many Western nations and rights groups calling for his release.

Lai has contested charges of foreign collusion under the Chinese city's national security law, which Beijing imposed after Hong Kong saw huge and sometimes violent pro-democracy protests in 2019.

Judge Esther Toh said on Thursday that the court will inform parties "in good time" as to when the verdict will be delivered.

Appearing in the dock in a white shirt and tan suit jacket, L

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