Hong Kong and Chinese authorities say Lai is being given a fair trial. Lai's lawyer Robert Pang, who began his final legal submission on Wednesday, said Lai had been defending and exercising basic rights.

Jimmy Lai, Hong Kong media tycoon and founder of Apple Daily, defends against charges of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces. Argued by his lawyer, Lai contends his support for human rights and freedom of expression is not criminal.

Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai has been charged under a Beijing-backed law critics say has been used to crack down on dissent.