Three High Court judges handed down penalties to Lai, as well as six senior executives of his Apple Daily tabloid-style newspaper, three companies associated with the now-defunct outlet and two activists, in a hearing of less than 10 minutes at West Kowloon Court.

Lai, 78, has been convicted on two conspiracy counts of collusion with foreign forces under the Beijing-decreed national security law, and a third of conspiracy to print and distribute seditious articles in breach of local legislation.

The court sentenced Lai to 20 years in prison on three charges, pushing his earliest possible release date to 2044, assuming he is not granted a one-third reduction for good behaviour under the domestic national security law. No other discount is given to him by prison authorities.

He would be 96 by the time he is released.

The six former Apple Daily employees who earlier pleaded guilty were sentenced to between six years and nine months, and 10 years in jail.

Two other activists, who had testified for the prosecution, were jailed for up to seven years and three months.