Topic
Jimmy Lai is a publishing tycoon known for his brash business style as well as his anti-Beijing activism, which was often reflected in his tabloid-style Apple Daily newspaper. He was a vocal participant in the Occupy Hong Kong protests of 2014 and remained a strong supporter of the anti-government protests triggered by the extradition bill. On 10 August 2020, he was arrested on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces and fraud. He has pleaded not guilty to the collusion charges. On 10 December 2022, he was sentenced to five years and nine months, and fined HK$2 million, in the fraud case. The collusion prosecution is ongoing.
As the city’s “trial of the century” attracts unprecedented interest both here and overseas, justice must not only be done, but be seen to be done.
Weaponising human rights and interfering with other people’s judicial systems are par for the course for the Five Eyes nations and their media allies.
With the world watching, the national security case involving former Hong Kong media tycoon has to be heard fairly and with respect shown to judges by all parties.
Core features of Hong Kong’s legal system will also have to be upheld by amendments regarding who can take part in national security law cases.
- Paralegal Wayland Chan explains his links to Lai, his right-hand man Mark Simon and activist Andy Li at West Kowloon Court
- Prosecutors allege Li was given instructions by Lai through Chan designed to try and trigger international sanctions against Hong Kong and mainland China
Activist turned prosecution witness Andy Li tells media mogul’s defence lawyers about unsuccessful escape attempt to Taiwan in late August 2020.
Andy Li tells court he had no direct contact with Apple Daily founder before or after Beijing-decreed national security law took effect in June 2020.
Activist turned prosecution witness Andy Li exchanged messages with middleman linked to media tycoon, discussed opposition camp’s future after 2020 security law.
Lobbyist Andy Li said he worked with Japanese legislator, a political activist and a financier, both based in Britain, to have sanctions applied.
Customs chief Ho Pui-shan says department will also provide training so officers can better detect materials that endanger national security.
Andy Li, a defendant turned prosecution witness, tells court emergence of ‘political crimes’ in Hong Kong justified his efforts.
Court hears UK politician Luke de Pulford approached Lai about publicising launch of Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China.
Prosecution witness Andy Li explains to court how Japanese equivalent to the US Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act came about in early 2020.
Justice secretary Paul Lam outlines scenarios where people could breach new domestic national security law.
Two draft proposals were sent to Japanese lawmaker Takashi Takai, one targeted human rights abuses in Hong Kong, while other addressed such concerns in general.
SWHK alliance prepared sanctions list targeting more than 140 individuals that paved way for US penalties against those deemed to have undermined city’s autonomy, detained activist Andy Li tells court.
Lai trial told ‘Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong’ lobby group asked US and UN to take action against mainland China and city.
West Kowloon Court hears money was to be used to help set up US trust fund to back international campaign against mainland China.
Group advertised in various British publications calling for then-incoming PM Boris Johnson to hold China to its commitments made on Hong Kong, witness says.
Jimmy Lai trial hears lobbying group paid more than £75,000 to two British consultancy firms to help develop network of UK parliamentarians.
Witness Andy Li says Agnes Chow helped place an advert in Japanese newspaper as part of initiative to urge overseas governments to take action against Hong Kong administration.
Lai’s comments triggered by former US vice-president Mike Pence’s speech in 2018, where American leader accused China of expanding interests on US soil, court hears.
Now-defunct tabloid published three commentary articles in special column titled ‘US-China Conflict Escalates’, four days after Autonomy Act was enacted, ex-editorial writer Yeung Ching-kee says
Former editorial writer Yeung Ching-kee describes approach taken as ‘playing with the edge’.
Continuing his testimony, former editorial writer Yeung Ching-kee says Lai’s ‘viewpoints were my guiding principles for writing and selecting articles’.
Court of Final Appeal says intention of media tycoon Jimmy Lai and six former opposition lawmakers to defy police ban on the illegal procession on August 18, 2019 ‘overwhelmingly’ evident.
Ex-Apple Daily editorial writer Yeung Ching-kee says strained US-China ties prompted Jimmy Lai to change tabloid’s approach as he testifies against former boss.
Prosecutors turn attention to testimony that media tycoon told his employees to ‘hang in there’ after his prosecution and incarceration in late 2020.
Former Apple Daily executive Chan Pui-man pushes back against defence’s argument that tabloid tycoon focused on management aspect of newspaper.
Media tycoon’s defence team says he did not tell Apple Daily staff to push limits of national security law with list of people for US sanctions.
‘My recollection was that apart from changing our choice of words, [nobody] had ever suggested changing our news angle,’ says ex-associate publisher Chan Pui-man.
Prosecutors in Jimmy Lai trial highlight 2020 front page story on potential sanctions on former city leader Carrie Lam and security chief Chris Tang, as well as mainland Chinese officials.
Seven are among nine opposition figures convicted in 2021 of organising and taking part in banned march.
Court hears evidence on Apple Daily’s decisions to play up certain events after national security law took effect.
