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China Took His City. And Now His Father.

February 27, 2026·36 min·3 clips

Jimmy Lai's son describes how his father's nails are falling off after 1,800 days in solitary confinement.

Sebastian Lai is the son of Jimmy Lai, the 77-year-old Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy activist who received a 20-year prison sentence in February 2025. Jimmy Lai was born in mainland China during the communist takeover, fled to Hong Kong as a child after a stranger gave him chocolate, and built a fortune through the clothing company Giordano before founding Apple Daily newspaper. Sebastian was born in 1994, three years before Britain handed Hong Kong back to China, and grew up in a colorful household where his father once kept a bear and frequented traditional Cantonese restaurants. Jimmy Lai used his wealth and newspaper to campaign for democracy, becoming a constant irritant to the Chinese government. During the 2014 Umbrella protests, Jimmy Lai stood on the front lines giving speeches, enduring tear gas and pig innards thrown at him. Sebastian participated separately in those protests and was also tear-gassed. The pro-democracy movement expanded in 2019 before China imposed the national security law that appeared designed to target figures like Jimmy Lai. Despite warnings to leave, Jimmy Lai remained in Hong Kong and was arrested in 2020 with dozens of national security officers conducting a perp walk through his own office. Sebastian was in Taiwan under quarantine when his father was arrested and has not returned to Hong Kong in five years, understanding he would likely face arrest himself. Jimmy Lai has spent 1,800 days in a 60-square-foot cell in solitary confinement, with deteriorating health including falling nails and heart problems. The two communicate only through letters, in which Jimmy Lai discusses his reading and religious drawings of Christ and Mary. Sebastian campaigns internationally for his father's release, believing China gains nothing from keeping a 77-year-old imprisoned and that Western pressure could secure freedom. Jimmy Lai has never met his two-year-old granddaughter, who recognizes him only from photographs. The interview is conducted calmly but carries deep emotional weight, with Sebastian maintaining composure while discussing the likelihood he may never see his father alive again. Sebastian speaks thoughtfully about guilt, hope, and the meaning of freedom, occasionally pausing on difficult questions. The conversation explores both personal family dynamics and larger questions about Hong Kong's transformation from a free city to one indistinguishable from mainland China. This episode suits audiences interested in human rights, China politics, press freedom, and the personal costs of political activism.

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