"A Hong Kong court began a four-day mitigation hearing on Monday to determine the severity of the sentences for pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai and his co-defendants, following their December 2025 conviction. Footage shows a heavy police presence outside the West Kowloon Law Courts building, including armoured vehicles, while dozens of supporters can be seen queuing since before sunrise to witness the proceedings. Later, Lai’s wife can also be seen arriving at court. The hearing, overseen by a panel of three High Court judges, is the defence's final opportunity to argue for leniency before formal sentencing for charges of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and of publishing ‘seditious’ material. 78-year-old Lai was arrested on August 10, 2020 following the adoption of the National Security Law in July 2020. His arrest came after mass pro-democracy protests in 2019. The businessman has been held in solitary confinement for nearly four years and has been denied access to UK lawyers, according to media reports. He is a Chinese-British dual citizen - both the UK and the US have called for his release, while his supporters have accused the country of using legislation to silence critics. China introduced the national security law for Hong Kong following a wave of pro-democracy protests in 2019, with provisions including secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign or external forces. If found guilty, Lai faces a life sentence in jail."