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1. Foreign Ministry's HK office condemns smears over Lai

   The Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong on Monday condemned a number of overseas countries and politicians for “smearing” Hong Kong’s judiciary over the national security conviction of former media mogul Jimmy Lai. “In response to the criticism and blatant interference and smearing of Hong Kong's judiciary by countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, Germany, as well as the European Union and a few politicians regarding this conviction, the spokesperson for the Commissioner's Office expressed strong dissatisfaction, firm opposition, and serious condemnation,” the office said in a statement on Monday night. The spokesperson said Lai was a key planner and participant in a conspiracy to destabilise Hong Kong, and was an “agent” and “pawn” of external anti-China forces, “whose words and actions seriously endangered national security.” The Apple Daily founder was earlier on Monday convicted of two charges of conspiring to collude with external forces to endanger national security, and a charge of conspiracy to publish seditious materials. The Commissioner’s office said the SAR’s judicial authorities have performed their lawful duties to uphold national security. “This is reasonable, rational, and lawful, and allows no interference.” The spokesperson also stressed that Lai’s case has nothing to do with press freedom, and is purely an internal affair of the SAR that brooks no interference. “Any attempt to whitewash Lai or to interfere with the judiciary through political pressure is a blatant trampling of the spirit of the rule of law,” the statement said. The office also released a separate letter addressed to Hong Kong-based foreign media laying out facts regarding Lai’s case, stressing that he was not prosecuted for reporting news, but had “abused public opinion tools to incite hatred, intensify confrontation, and encourage support for riotous activities, serving as the mastermind behind the 2019 ’black violence’ in Hong Kong.” The spokesperson said the trial was open and transparent, and was held under fair and just procedures, free from interference, in full view of a large number of members of the public, media representatives, and foreign consular officials in Hong Kong. The letter dismissed suggestions that Lai was subjected to any inhuman treatment in custody, saying his lawful rights and interests were fully protected, and he had received timely and comprehensive medical treatment. The spokesperson further pointed out that Lai's own lawyer confirmed in court that the defendant had not been subjected to unjust treatment, and that Lai's had walked normally in court on Monday without needing assistance, in overall good condition. In Washington, US President Donald Trump said he felt "badly" about Lai's conviction and added that he had asked President Xi Jinping to consider his release. "He's an older man, and he's not well. So I did put that request out. We'll see what happens," Trump said. Separately, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Beijing to "bring this ordeal to an end as soon as possible and to release Mr Lai on humanitarian grounds". Lai is a British citizen, and the UK government condemned his "politically motivated prosecution" in a statement calling for his release. (Additional reporting by AFP)

2. Jimmy Lai case 'had nothing to do with press freedom'

   Secretary for Security Chris Tang said on Monday the Jimmy Lai verdict shows that the case had nothing to do with press freedom. Tang said the High Court judges clearly stated in the verdict finding Lai guilty of three charges that he used free press as a pretext to push for his own agenda in damaging Hong Kong. "The verdict states very clearly it has nothing to do with freedom of press in this case," he said at a press briefing. "It is solely because of Jimmy Lai utilising Apple Daily as a platform to advocate his hatred against government, and his thought to try to overturn the [Communist Party of China's] regime." Refuting a statement by the Hong Kong Journalists Association that the Apple Daily case "caused irreversible damage to the local press long before the conviction", Tang said the former media mogul made use of the newspaper to incite young people to take to the streets, using them as "tools" to oppose the government. The minister stressed that no one is above the law, and that officers will make arrests and file charges against anyone, including national security suspects, when there is enough evidence to do so.

3. CE praises historic results in NGD and NSOG

   Chief Executive John Lee has commended the city’s delegation for their historic performance at the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG), pledging continued and increased support for disability sports. In a statement on Monday, Lee praised the more than 280 athletes — Hong Kong’s largest-ever delegation to the Games — for demonstrating "personal perseverance and team spirit." He said the athletes "strove hard, overcame obstacles and surpassed their personal bests, showcasing Hong Kong's indefatigable and indomitable spirit." The team competed in 14 competition events and four mass participation events at the NGD, as well as seven events at the NSOG. Their efforts yielded a record total of 140 medals: 51 golds, 49 silvers and 40 bronzes. These included 11 golds from the NGD competition events and 37 golds from the NSOG. Lee highlighted the government's financial commitment to developing disability sports, noting that expenditure exceeded HK$140 million in the 2024-25 fiscal year, with over 80 percent directly supporting athletes with disabilities. Furthermore, over HK$1 billion has been earmarked for the Hong Kong Sports Institute in 2025-26 to support elite athlete training, including para athletes. "The government will encourage more persons with disabilities to pursue careers as athletes and showcase their talents through continuously increasing resources and enhancing the athlete training ladder, with a view to raising the public's awareness of and support for disability sports," he said. He also noted that the successful co-hosting of the 15th National Games, alongside the NGD and NSOG, by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao demonstrated the Greater Bay Area’s strong capability in organising large-scale sports events.

4. 'Lai's actions harm national security, prosperity'

   Jimmy Lai's actions seriously endangered national security and Hong Kong's prosperity, Beijing's national security office in Hong Kong said on Monday, as it voiced support for the ruling that found him guilty of three charges. The Office for Safeguarding National Security said the trial showed the former media tycoon was the "main planner and participant" in a series of anti-China incidents and the "driving force" of the anti-extradition bill movement. The office also hit out at Lai for asking for foreign sanctions, colluding with organisations advocating "Hong Kong independence" and external forces and abusing mass media to incite hatred and resistance. "His actions severely violated the bottom line of the 'One Country, Two Systems' principle, seriously endangered national security, and seriously damaged Hong Kong's prosperity, stability as well as the well-being of its people," it said. Such serious crimes warrant severe punishment, the office added.

5. AI vests help pull out all the stops for ADHD students

   A research team at The Education University of Hong Kong has created the world's first AI-powered smart vest to help children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) improve their focus and classroom behaviour. According to the team, an estimated 6.4 percent of children and adolescents live with ADHD in the city, meaning tens of thousands of students struggle daily with attention and behavioural regulation. The vest is equipped with two small devices on on its shoulder and back section that monitor trunk and core muscle activity. When it detects hyperactive movements, it delivers gentle vibrations to prompt the wearer to self-regulate, reducing the need for direct teacher intervention. More than 40 children aged seven to 12 from over 10 primary schools have tested the vest. Results show it can reduce hyperactive movements by up to 54 percent, with corresponding gains in attention and classroom engagement. According to principal investigator Fu Hong, the vest can be tailored to a student's schedule. "If I suppose that from 9am to 10am, there is Chinese class, and in that class, we normally need them to sit well in the classroom, that means if any hyperactivity is detected, [the smart vest can be adjusted to] give them vibrations," she said. "If that is a PE [class], we can just turn it off." This adaptability, Fu noted, helped improve sitting stability, attention and rule-following by approximately 10 to 15 percent during trials. Beyond real-time support, the vest connects to a behavioural data platform that visualises a student’s activity patterns across different lessons. Fu said teachers and parents could track these trends to inform psychological assessments, school-based support and personalised intervention plans – providing objective data to evaluate the effectiveness of existing measures. The team now aims to conduct larger, longer-term pilot programmes across more schools and subjects to further validate the vest’s real-world feasibility. If results remain promising, Fu hopes the smart vest can be commercialised within the next one to two years.

6. Respect China's sovereignty, HK's rule of law: FM

   The Foreign Ministry on Monday expressed strong dissatisfaction and opposition to certain countries' blatant slander and defamation of Hong Kong's judicial system, pointing out that the central government firmly supports SAR authorities in safeguarding national security. The comments came after the High Court convicted former media tycoon Jimmy Lai of all three conspiracy charges that he faced, including two on colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security. Responding to the conviction, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Hong Kong is governed by the rule of law. "The judicial authorities of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region performed their duties and responsibilities in accordance with the law, upheld the authority of the law, and defended national security – all of which are reasonable, legitimate, and impervious to interference," he told a regular press briefing in Beijing. Guo added the case is purely an internal matter for the SAR and urged relevant countries to respect China's sovereignty and Hong Kong's rule of law. He also urged them to "refrain from making irresponsible statements regarding the adjudication of judicial cases in the region, and refrain from interfering in Hong Kong’s judiciary or China’s internal affairs in any form".

7. 'Lai's crimes leave HK with excruciating pain'

   Beijing's liaison office in Hong Kong has voiced its "resolute support" for the conviction of former media tycoon Jimmy Lai, saying his offences have left society with "excruciating pain". In a statement on Monday, an office spokesperson said evidence presented in court showed the Apple Daily founder was the "mastermind" and "financier" of anti-China forces in Hong Kong, and that he was willing to act as a pawn of external forces that wished to use the city to contain the country. Lai had long manipulated anti-China individuals and organisations such as Apple Daily and colluded with anti-China forces abroad, the office said, adding that the former businessman spread "unscrupulous statements" intending to incite others to subvert the SAR regime. "[He] even directly organised resistance movements, begged external forces to impose sanctions on China and Hong Kong, and did not stop after the implementation of the National Security Law," the office said. "His crimes have caused serious harm to Hong Kong's society and left excruciating pain on Hong Kong people."

8. CE welcomes Jimmy Lai verdict

   Chief Executive John Lee said a guilty verdict for Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai upheld legal justice and safeguarded Hong Kong’s core values. Lai was convicted of three national security-related charges by the High Court on Monday. “Jimmy Lai used Apple Daily to wantonly create social conflicts, incite social antagonism, incite hatred and glorify violence over a long period of time,” Lee said at the airport before departing on a duty visit to Beijing. “He openly begged for foreign sanctions against China and the Hong Kong SAR, attracting external interference. “Jimmy Lai harmed the fundamental interests of the country and the well-being of the people of Hong Kong; his actions are shameful and his intentions malicious.” In a statement, a government spokesman dismissed claims that Lai had not received proper medical care or been allowed religious services while in custody, saying arrangements made for him were no different from those for other inmates. The spokesman noted that Lai’s counsel had told the court that Lai was receiving daily medical examinations and had made no complaints about the medical services provided in correctional institutions. The spokesman added that Lai’s case had been exploited by hostile external forces to smear and attack the SAR government and incite public hatred. He said fugitives and wanted persons who fled overseas continued to engage in activities that endanger national security, which showed that Hong Kong still faces national security risks and cannot let its guard down. The spokesman said the government would continue to enhance legal systems and enforcement mechanisms to address the ever-changing national security situation. In a separate statement, non-official members of the Executive Council also welcomed the court’s ruling, saying Lai’s conviction showed legal justice and upheld Hong Kong’s core values. They pledged to continue to support the SAR government in fulfilling its responsibility to safeguard national security and to prevent and punish acts that endanger it.

9. Degrees of separation mark water dispensers

   The Consumer Council on Monday said table-top water dispensers available in the market on which it carried out tests pumped out hot water at uneven temperatures, with the differences in the case of one model ranging to more than 10 degrees Celsius. The watchdog worked with the Electrical & Mechanical Services Department in carrying out tests on eight models, which had maximum capacities of between 2.5 and six litres. Its sustainability, public affairs and education committee vice chair, Kenneth Chan, said the average maximum temperature of the water dispensed was measured in two tests to which each of the models were subjected to. Temperatures of water in the first cups were lower than those in three subsequent cups in each of the tests. And for three models, the temperatures of the three cups too didn't meet what was stated for the dispensers. "Some models were measured with uneven water temperatures at the outlet during consecutive dispensing," Chan said. "With the maximum outlet temperature difference of one model being 10.3 degrees Celsius and that of two others exceeding five degrees, [the tests indicated] uneven performance." Chan said uneven temperatures might affect preparations for food and beverages such as coffee and instant noodles. The consumer watchdog also tested 25 models of exfoliating face wash available in the market and found that three of them could cause skin irritation. That's because their acidity levels, or pH values, were between 2.6 and 2.7, lower than the standard of 3.5 set on the mainland. Three models also tested positive for traces of the potentially carcinogenic material, 1,4-dioxane, with the level for one of them exceeding European standards. The council stressed all face washes should be rinsed off quickly, giving them minimal time to be absorbed.

10. Jimmy Lai aimed to topple Communist Party, court rules

    Former media tycoon Jimmy Lai “never wavered” in his push to destabilise the governance of the ruling Communist Party and continued to call for sanctions -- albeit in a “less explicit way” -- even after the National Security Law came into effect, the High Court ruled in his national security trial. The Apple Daily founder was on Monday convicted of all three conspiracy charges: one on printing seditious material, and two on colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security. Three companies, namely Apple Daily Limited, Apple Daily Printing Limited and AD Internet Limited, were also found guilty of the two charges of collusion and sedition they faced. Delivering an 855-page judgement on Monday, a three-judge bench ruled that Lai was “consciously using Apple Daily and his personal influence” for a consistent campaign to undermine the legitimacy and authority of the central and SAR governments. The senior management of Apple Daily and others agreed with the defendant and “were knowing and willing parties” to his campaign, they added. After examining some 161 articles presented in court, the bench said the pieces were “objectively seditious” and “manifested a general and constant pattern of showing serious hostility and bias” against the Communist Party, the central government and the SAR administration. “[The defendant’s] end game was to change the regime of the [Chinese Communist Party],” the judges said. “His main aim was to gather support from the US and the Western world to destabilise the [Chinese Communist Party]. He tried to influence foreign policy on Hong Kong or the [People’s Republic of China] through his relations with foreign figures.” The court also ruled that Lai continued to express an anti-China stance after the enactment of the National Security Law in 2020, albeit by “a more indirect and subtle strategy and by toning down his rhetoric”. Citing the online broadcast programme “Live Chat with Jimmy Lai”, the judges noted that the defendant’s stance “permeated each and every episode”. “We find that [the defendant] was plainly aware of the legal risks involved in openly soliciting foreign countries to impose sanctions on the [People’s Republic of China] or Hong Kong,” the judges said. “He sought to reduce his legal risks by attempting to operate in the ‘grey area’ and adopting an implicitly disguised and subtle approach.” Regarding the second count of collusion, the bench said it had all along been the defendant’s intention “to request foreign countries – the US in particular – to impose sanctions”. The judges also said there was an agreement between Lai, his personal assistant Mark Simon, Andy Li, Wayland Chan and Finn Lau on engaging in international lobbying following a meeting in 2020. The judges went on to say that the meeting showed the defendant’s “unwavering commitment to go on with the agreement to request for [sanctions, blockades, hostile activities] in spite of the [national security law].” "The only reasonable inference we can draw from the preponderance of the evidence is that [Lai's] only intent whether pre- or post-NSL was to seek the downfall of the [Chinese Communist Party] even though the ultimate cost was the sacrifice of the interests of the people of the [People’s Republic of China] and the [Hong Kong Special Administrative Region]," the judges concluded. The court said four days will be set aside for the mitigation hearing, which is scheduled to start on January 12, while the sentencing date will be announced as soon as possible.