Statement: FCDO summons Chinese Ambassador - 15 December 2025

Today, on instruction from the Foreign Secretary, the Chinese Ambassador was summoned to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Summoning the ambassador, a senior Foreign Office official was unequivocal in setting out that the UK is appalled by the politically motivated prosecution that has resulted in this verdict and called for Jimmy Lai to be released immediately. As a British national, Mr Lai's case remains an absolute priority for the UK Government.

The summons followed the Hong Kong's court's ruling that Jimmy Lai is guilty of foreign collusion under the National Security Law and for conspiring to publish seditious materials. The UK has repeatedly called for the National Security Law to be repealed and for an end to the prosecution of all individuals charged under it.