The family of jailed Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai has raised fresh alarm over his worsening health in prison, describing a man who is physically breaking down after nearly five years behind bars. In an emotional account shared with the BBC, Lai’s daughter, Claire Lai, revealed that her 78-year-old father is suffering severe health complications, including rotting teeth, fingernails that sometimes fall off, chronic pain, and difficulty standing or even getting out of bed.
Jimmy Lai, a media entrepreneur and founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, has been detained since December 2020. Earlier this month, he was convicted of colluding with foreign forces under Hong Kong’s controversial National Security Law (NSL)—a charge that carries a possible life sentence. The law was introduced by Beijing in response to large-scale pro-democracy protests and has since been widely criticised by human rights groups and Western governments for silencing dissent.
Speaking from exile in London, Claire Lai said she fears she may never see her father again. She described him as an “extremely robust and strong man” before his imprisonment, but said his condition has sharply declined over the past year. According to her, Lai has lost significant weight, developed diabetes and heart problems, and now experiences severe back and waist pain. On some days, she said, he is unable to stand or leave his bed.
Concerns about Lai’s health are not new. Earlier this year, his son Sebastien Lai told the BBC that his father’s “body is breaking down.” The family has repeatedly appealed to international leaders to intervene, warning that time may be running out. The BBC has seen a letter from the family urging UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to press for Lai’s release when he meets Chinese President Xi Jinping during a planned visit to China in January 2026.
Chinese and Hong Kong authorities, however, have firmly rejected claims of mistreatment. A spokesperson for the Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong stated that Lai’s “lawful rights and interests have been fully protected” and insisted that he is in “good health,” adding that he is being held in a “safe, humane, appropriate, and healthy custodial environment.”
Lai, who holds UK citizenship, is the most prominent figure charged under the NSL. In addition to the national security conviction, he was also found guilty under a separate colonial-era law for publishing seditious material through Apple Daily, once one of Hong Kong’s most influential pro-democracy newspapers. Authorities accused him of lobbying foreign governments to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and China—claims his supporters say amount to criminalising free expression.
Following his conviction, the UK government condemned the ruling as “politically motivated persecution,” arguing that Lai was targeted for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression. The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office reiterated calls for the National Security Law to be repealed and for all individuals charged under it to be released. Beijing responded by accusing Western governments of hypocrisy and of attempting to interfere with China’s judicial system through political pressure.
As diplomatic tensions continue, Lai’s family says their campaign is not about turning him into a symbol, but about saving his life. Claire Lai acknowledged fears that her father could become a martyr, but said speaking out remains their best hope of reuniting as a family. With a potential life sentence looming and his health reportedly in rapid decline, Jimmy Lai’s case has become a powerful test of international pressure, human rights advocacy, and the future of political freedoms in Hong Kong.