As for Lai's solitary confinement that was submitted by his counsel as a ground for mitigation, the judges said the arrangement was made on Lai's request out of his fear of "harassment". They noted that Lai was also allowed to exercise outside his cell during his imprisonment and was assigned meaningful though very light duty work.

Having considered all the circumstances, including Lai's old age, health condition and solitary confinement, the court deducted one month from Lai's sentence for seditious publication and one year each for the two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces.

Lai's associated companies, Apple Daily Ltd, Apple Daily Printing Ltd, and AD Internet Ltd, were each fined HK$3,004,500 ($384,000).

His other eight co-defendants who had previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces were also sentenced on the same day. Among them, "Stand with Hong Kong" (SWHK) core members Andy Li Yu-hin and Wayland Chan Tsz-wah received sentences of seven years and three months, and six years and three months, respectively.

Next Digital senior personnel Cheung Kim-hung was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison, Chan Pui-man to seven years, and Yeung Ching-kee to seven years and three months.

Law Wai-kwong and Lam Man-chung and Fung Wai-kong were each sentenced to 10 years in jail. The court noted their sentences reflected the fact that they did not assist the authorities or provide evidence for the prosecution.