HONG KONG: Former executives of Apple Daily, the now-defunct, pro-democracy newspaper founded by media mogul Jimmy Lai, finished pleading for lighter sentences in a Hong Kong court this week on charges of conspiring to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security.

The former journalists admitted to the prosecution's charge that they conspired with Lai to seek foreign sanctions, blockades, or to engage in other hostile activities against Hong Kong or China.

The court moved closer to sentencing Lai, whose conviction could send him to prison for life, although the potential length of the term remained unclear.

Lai, who pleaded not guilty in the case, was convicted in December. The verdict raised concerns about the city's declining press freedom and drew criticism from foreign governments.

The government, however, insisted that the defendants used news reporting as a pretext for years to commit acts that harmed China and Hong Kong, and it had nothing to do with media freedom.

After arguments ended, Judge Esther Toh said the three judges needed time to review the lawyers' submissions and would announce the sentencing date "as soon as we can." No date was given.

When the judges left, some people in the public gallery waved to the defendants. Lai pressed his hands together in a gesture of thanks before leaving the courtroom.

Six former Apple Daily executives were convicted in the case: publisher Cheung Kim-hung, associate publisher Chan Pui-man, editor-in-chief Ryan Law, executive editor-in-chief Lam Man-chung, executive editor-in-chief for English news Fung Wai-kong, and editorial writer Yeung Ching-kee. Some later testified for the prosecution during the 156-day trial.

A conviction for collusion carries a sentence of three years to life in prison, though sentences can be reduced for guilty pleas or for helping authorities under the security law.

Chan's lawyer, Marco Li, said if judges placed her in the higher sentencing range, the starting point should be 10 years because of her limited role. He asked that the sentence be cut in half due to her early guilty plea and her help to prosecutors.

Li said Chan, who joined Apple Daily in 1996, felt strongly about journalism and regretted not pushing back more when she was uncomfortable with decisions. He added that she could not easily quit at the time because of serious health problems and financial pressure.

Lam's lawyer, Erik Shum, said judges should consider each defendant's individual actions and roles when deciding sentences. "He was pulled into this as an employee," Shum said.

Chan's husband, Chung Pui-kuen, a former senior editor at the now-closed Stand News, was in the gallery. He is serving a 21-month prison sentence in a separate sedition case.