Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai pleads not guilty in national security case; prosecutors accuse him of instigating hostile actions via overseas connections

Prosecution gives opening arguments on fourth day of high-profile national security trial of tycoon Jimmy Lai at West Kowloon Court

The 76-year-old has formally entered not guilty plea for two conspiracy charges of collusion with foreign forces and one of sedition

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A prison van carrying Jimmy Lai arrives at West Kowloon Court. Police have been checking vehicles entering the building. Photo: Eugene Lee

Published: 11:39am, 2 Jan 2024Updated: 11:59am, 4 Jan 2024

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Media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying pleaded not guilty to national security charges as his trial resumed on Tuesday, with prosecutors accusing him of using a vast network of connections overseas to invite sanctions and instigate hostile actions against both Hong Kong and mainland China.

Laying out their opening arguments at West Kowloon Court, prosecutors accused Lai of collaborating with external forces and using his now-defunct Apple Daily tabloid to spread seditious material, as they played video clips of his interviews with Western media outlets and named prominent foreign figures he allegedly collaborated with.

Lead prosecutor Anthony Chau Tin-hang called Lai a “radical political figure” who had jumped on the bandwagon of the 2019 social unrest to pursue his illegal agenda.

“Since June 2019, under the guise of the fight for freedom and democracy, [Lai] had on multiple occasions engaged in multiple requests to foreign countries, in particular the [United States], to impose sanctions, blockade or [engage in] other hostile activities against [mainland China] and [Hong Kong],” said Chau, the deputy director of public prosecutions.

Armed officers outside West Kowloon Court. Police have been out in numbers for the opening days of the high-profile trial. Photo: Elson Li

Former Hong Kong No 2 official Anson Chan Fang On-sang and veteran democrat Martin Lee Chu-ming were also alleged to have been involved in the activities. The pair have never been arrested over national security offences.