Jimmy Lai inflamed anti-China sentiments in US, urged hostilities through ‘extreme’ articles, Hong Kong court hears

Ex-publisher Cheung Kim-hung says English-language version of Apple Daily tabloid launched to influence American politics, particularly approach to China

Lai appeared intent on galvanising US support to take hostile actions towards mainland China, such as through imposing sanctions, Cheung testifies

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Published: 1:20pm, 24 Jan 2024Updated: 9:05pm, 24 Jan 2024

The ex-publisher of Hong Kong’s now-defunct Apple Daily tabloid has accused media mogul Jimmy Lai Chee-ying of inflaming anti-China sentiments in the US and instigating hostile acts by feeding overseas readers “extreme” and “negative” articles.

Prosecutors on Wednesday took aim at what they called the “unbalanced” reporting of Apple Daily’s English-language edition, as defendant turned witness Cheung Kim-hung continued giving evidence on the 15th day of the national security trial at West Kowloon Court.

Cheung said the English platform, launched a month before Beijing implemented the national security law in Hong Kong in June 2020, was created with a view to influence US politics, particularly Washington’s approach to China.

The witness said Lai had also asked his right-hand man, former US intelligence agent Mark Simon, to invite then US president Donald Trump and other senior officials to subscribe to the newspaper’s digital version, hoping they could provide Apple Daily with “the greatest level of political protection”.

But Cheung said he was later told by Simon that the attempt failed because the US government did not want to leave any transaction records on Apple Daily’s website.

Lai, 76, is standing trial on two conspiracy charges of collusion with foreign forces under the national security law, and a third count of conspiracy to print and distribute seditious publications under colonial-era legislation.

The court heard Lai decided to go ahead with the English edition after it was proposed to him by an Apple Daily columnist and online political commentator, who was only known by the pen name Fung Hei-kin.