Cherise Pham

This verdict was widely expected.

The judge is saying that there is, quote, no doubt that Lai harbored his resentment and hatred of the People's Republic of China for many of his adult years.

They say he colluded with foreign forces to encourage countries to put sanctions on China and Hong Kong during the anti-government protests that crippled the city in 2019.

The judges cited WhatsApp messages where Jimmy Lai and an aide, Mark Simon, set up meetings with senior U.S.

officials including then-Vice President Mike Pence and then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Lai now awaits sentencing.

The 78-year-old faces up to life in prison.

For NPR News, I'm Cherise Pham in Hong Kong.

Officials became emotional as they described bodies found in stairwells, hallways, and apartments in the wreckage.

Some of the bodies were burned to ash.

The fire tore through seven high-rise towers.

Five of the buildings have been searched, and authorities say it could take weeks to go through the remaining two.

The government says it has provided housing for more than 2,000 people left homeless by the fire so far.

The housing complex was home to more than 4,600.

For NPR News, I'm Cherise Pham in Hong Kong.

Officials say most of the bodies were from one of the high rises that caught fire first and had less time for evacuation, according to public broadcaster RTHK.

This is one of the deadliest fires in Hong Kong's history.

It broke out at a sprawling public housing complex, home to about 4,600 people.

Seven buildings caught fire.

Officials say that they have now gone through four of those buildings.