But Pang told West Kowloon Court the message might have been written by an American rather than Lai and singled out a paragraph in the message, dated July 15 that year, where the writer used “we” in relation to the United States.

“It’s possible that you misunderstood his message,” the senior counsel told ex-associate publisher Chan Pui-man, who got the message.

But Chan, a defendant turned prosecution witness, pushed back at the contention and said such a reading of the text would be “very strange”.

She added it was possible for Lai to have included his own instruction for Apple Daily editors as he forwarded someone else’s views on the executive order.

The alleged instruction is one of the pieces of evidence prosecutors have relied upon in accusing Lai of calling for sanctions and instigating hostile action by Western governments.

The 76-year-old tycoon has been charged with two conspiracy counts of collusion with foreign forces under the Beijing-imposed national security law and a third of conspiracy to print and distribute seditious publications under colonial-era legislation.

The defence continued to cross-examine Chan on the 34th day of the high-profile trial, as they battled to prove their contention that Lai had given the tabloid’s newsroom a high degree of editorial freedom and asked staff to avoid legal risks.

‘Apple Daily maintained editorial stance with concessions after Jimmy Lai held’

Chan told the court she had never heard Lai speak in support of independence, but added they had never discussed the topic in-depth.

Pang brought up text messages between Lai and Chan, where the businessman said he was “shocked” by the national security law and asked the newspaper to “come up with a good strategy to deal with it” and “not be reckless”.

The court heard Lai, in an Apple Daily town hall meeting held to mark its 25th anniversary in 2020, asked reporters to be responsible and emphasised that “no one would ask you to do certain things. No one would force you to become a martyr.”

Cheung Kim-hung, Apple Daily’s former publisher, said Lai had reminded colleagues to be cautious when carrying out “dangerous” journalistic work at another town hall meeting in 2021.

‘Jimmy Lai pushed Apple Daily to play up officials facing possible US sanctions’

Pang argued that Lai had never asked newsroom staff to challenge the national security law and had wanted Apple Daily to change its editorial approach and act “within the confines of the law”.

Chan said Lai had on at least one occasion asked reporters to “hang in there”.

She added she had been led to believe what Apple Daily did would not cross the line into illegality.

Chan said Cheung had emphasised at the 2021 meeting that the tabloid would not “give in”.

The trial was adjourned to Thursday, when Chan is expected to complete her evidence.