France, Dec. 22 -- Lai - who has been behind bars since 2020 - is accused of being the mastermind behind two conspiracies to ask foreign countries to take action against Hong Kong or China, and publishing anti-government content

Prosecutors cited 161 items published by Lai's Apple Daily newspaper, including opinion articles with Lai's byline, and talk shows he hosted, which were deemed seditious under a colonial-era law because they "excited disaffection" against the government.

"There is no doubt that [Lai] had harboured his resentment and hatred of the PRC," Judge Esther Toh told the court, referring to the People's Republic of China.

She said he had invited the United States "to help bring down" the Chinese government, "with the exc...