Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai insisted on pressing ahead with sanctions bid after national security law took effect, court hears
- Apple Daily founder believed legislation imposed in 2020 was ‘all bark and no bite’ after being urged to consider his personal safety, key prosecution witness says
- ‘[Lai] went on to say he would set an example himself and continue to call for sanctions and attention in different media,’ witness adds
But the tycoon said he was prepared to carry on until the end when he decided to join “the fight for freedom”.
“Let’s not worry about personal security,” he wrote. “We may not win but must persist.”
“At that time, I believed we should back down and stop advocating sanctions. I felt nobody should be doing that,” he said. “But he said the national security law was all bark and no bite, and he would be fine.
“He went on to say he would set an example himself and continue to call for sanctions and attention in different media.”
Lai told Chan in that meeting he had been “discussing with the United States” about ways to support the youngsters involved in the 2019 unrest.
Lai, 76, allegedly used Chan as a middleman to relay instructions to activists of the “Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong” (SWHK) advocacy group to instigate economic sanctions and other hostile acts against the city and mainland China.
The tycoon sent Chan a link to a “great open letter”, written by British political activist Luke de Pulford and published on the Apple Daily website, which urged democracy campaigners to better formulate their demands and find a way to increase their representation.
Chan believed Hong Kong activists, with Lai pulling the strings, would have a greater chance of lobbying foreign government officials and those working “under the table”, such as political advisers.
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“I think it’s fair to say that the US will continue to try to push back on Beijing, but is wary of being dragged into a clash not of Washington’s choosing,” one message said.
“I was told the US is very concerned about new violence from demonstrators, increased threats from bombs [or improvised explosive devices].”
The message went on to say the city’s pan-democrats had been “warned that death of police or civilians will open a wide gap” and that US officials agreed that “violence poses a serious threat to the movement”.
The remarks were reportedly made by a person who had regular contact with a senior US official, but Chan said he had no idea who they were.
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The paralegal said both activists had previously agreed to act in accordance with Lai’s instructions to instigate economic sanctions against Hong Kong and mainland officials.
Lai in return sought “something creative” from the activists to help boost Apple Daily’s subscriptions, he added.
The trial continues on Wednesday.