Apple Daily ran articles to promote US sanctions against officials after Donald Trump signed Hong Kong Autonomy Act, ex-top aide of Jimmy Lai tells court

Apple Daily dedicated print space to discussions about US-China relations, possible sanctions against then city leader Carrie Lam, ex-editorial writer Yeung Ching-kee says

Now-defunct outlet published three commentary articles in special column titled ‘US-China Conflict Escalates’, four days after Autonomy Act was enacted, he adds

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Apple Daily’s printing press. Jimmy Lai’s trial has entered its 41st day. Photo: Dickson Lee

Published: 3:28pm, 8 Mar 2024Updated: 5:39pm, 8 Mar 2024

Hong Kong’s Apple Daily tabloid ran commentaries to promote US sanctions in response to a bill signed by then American president Donald Trump penalising local officials for allegedly undermining the city’s autonomy, a former top aide of mogul Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has said.

Former editorial writer Yeung Ching-kee on Friday said the now-defunct tabloid had specifically dedicated print space to discussions about US-China relations and possible sanctions against then city leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor following the signing of the Hong Kong Autonomy Act four years ago.

West Kowloon Court heard Apple Daily published three commentaries, one of which prosecutors earlier singled out as being offensive, in a special column titled “US-China Conflict Escalates” on July 18, 2020, four days after the Autonomy Act was enacted.

The Hong Kong Autonomy Act was signed into law by former US president Donald Trump four years ago. Photo: AP

Yeung, a defendant turned prosecution witness, confirmed the column was related to a front-page article published a day earlier about a potential list of mainland Chinese and Hong Kong officials who could face sanctions by the Trump administration.

Mr Justice Alex Lee Wan-tang, one of three judges on the bench, questioned whether Yeung had foreseen Trump’s sanctions list when the tabloid’s senior editorial staff discussed the theme for its weekly column days earlier.

The ex-editorial writer said the special column was designed in anticipation of the Autonomy Act, but added he was unaware at the time which officials would potentially face penalties by Washington.

Yeung was giving evidence against his former boss Lai, 76, who is being tried on two conspiracy charges of collusion with foreign forces and a third of conspiracy to print and distribute seditious publications.