Jimmy Lai

Hong Kong businessman and activist · China · Founders · Born 1947 · age 78

Jimmy Lai is read about 468 times a day, in 29 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 27 October 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 402 days, one point a day.

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A life in dates

2021World Association of Newspapers' Golden Pen of Freedom AwardAward2020“I don't regret my support for the protest movement. I came here empty-handed, and I owe everything I've got to the freedom of Hong Kong. Maybe it's time for me to give it back...”In their wordsJune 16, 2020, interviewed by AFPRead the whole statement

“I don't want to leave Hong Kong, the only thing we can do is persist, not to lose spirit or hope. And to think that what is right will eventually prevail.”In their wordsJune 16, 2020, interviewed by AFPRead the whole statement

2015“If I really treated business like a businessman, I wouldn’t have done what I have done - opposing China.”In their wordsJanuary 11, 2015 For Jimmy Lai, Hong Kong’s Rebellious Tycoon, Next Battle May Be in CourtRead the whole statement

2014“When I escaped from China and came to Hong Kong, the contrast was that China was like hell and Hong Kong, like heaven.”In their wordsNovember 01, 2014 ‘Never Discouraged’: Pro-Democracy Newspaperman Joins Hong Kong Student ProtestersRead the whole statement

1995“An apple a day keep the lies away.”In their wordsJune 1995June 1995 Commercial slogan used by Apple DailyRead the whole statement

1947Born8 December 1947

Also in Deutsch

Photos 6

Lai and Martin Lee at 1 July marches, 2013

Meeting with US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Martin Lee on the topic of Hong Kong's pro-democracy protest. October 2019.

Lai met with US Vice President Pence to discuss Hong Kong pro-democracy protests. July 2019.

Next Digital offices, raided by police on 10 August 2020

Photo of Lai as he was heading to court, 2 December 2020

In their own words 5

Jimmy Lai

5 statements, newest first

I don't regret my support for the protest movement. I came here empty-handed, and I owe everything I've got to the freedom of Hong Kong. Maybe it's time for me to give it back...
Jun 16, 2020, June 16, 2020, interviewed by AFP, Own words
I don't want to leave Hong Kong, the only thing we can do is persist, not to lose spirit or hope. And to think that what is right will eventually prevail.
Jun 16, 2020, June 16, 2020, interviewed by AFP, Own words
If I really treated business like a businessman, I wouldn’t have done what I have done - opposing China.
Jan 11, 2015, January 11, 2015 For Jimmy Lai, Hong Kong’s Rebellious Tycoon, Next Battle May Be in Court, Own words

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

Awards

World Association of Newspapers' Golden Pen of Freedom Award2021

About this person

Lai Chee-ying, also known as Jimmy Lai, is a Hong Kong businessman, politician, and political prisoner. He founded the clothing retailer Giordano, the media company Next Digital, and the newspaper Apple Daily. He is one of the main contributors to Hong Kong's pro-democracy camp, especially to the Democratic Party. A British citizen since 1994, he was imprisoned in 2020 and his business operations shuttered under pressure from the Chinese government.

Country

China

Founders from China 6

Ren Zhiqiang58.8

Zhang Yiming57.8 Liang Wenfeng58.8

Meng Wanzhou56.5

Li Ning59.7

Hui Ka Yan56.3

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