Hong Kong democracy advocate and former media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who is 78 years old,

has been sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Beijing-backed court.

It is the longest sentenced handed down under China's national security law,

legislation that has effectively silenced dissent in a city that for decades operated under British rule of law.

The U.S. called the sentence by the China-backed court and lies earlier conviction for so-called

collusion with foreign forces unjust. Lai's children called it a death sentence.

Nick Schifrin has more.

Today, outside a Hong Kong court that once proudly protected Western liberties, authorities

took an icon of democracy away and confirmed that criticism in this city will be crushed

with Chinese characteristics.

For decades, Jimmy Lai struggled for Hong Kong's freedoms.

An ever-present force fighting to preserve the city's rule of law.

He arrived in Hong Kong at the age of 12, escaping communist China by stowing away on a fishing boat.

He worked his way up to become a media tycoon, one of the city's most successful and powerful businessmen. But in the summer of 2020, Lai became the most prominent person arrested under Beijing's

sweeping national security law, which allowed Beijing back authorities to punish people

for, quote, provoking the hatred of Beijing, or receiving any support from a foreign country.

That was Lai's conviction for, quote, conspiring to collude with foreign forces and for publishing,

quote, seditious articles, sentiments echoed today by China's foreign ministry.

His actions have gravely endangered national security and severely harmed Hong Kong's prosperity,

stability, and the well-being of its residents.

And therefore, he deserved to be severely punished in accordance with the law.

And that makes Lai's detention and sentence about more than the man.

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