Global advocacy group allegedly backed by Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai prepared sanctions list targeting more than 140 individuals, court hears

An international advocacy group allegedly backed by Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying prepared a sanctions list targeting more than 140 individuals that paved the way for US penalties against those deemed to have undermined the city’s autonomy five years ago, a court has heard.

On the 50th day of Lai’s marathon trial, detained activist Andy Li Yu-hin continued to explain how his still-functioning alliance carried out lobbying in late 2019 before the Beijing-decreed national security law took effect the following year.

Li said on Thursday that in December 2019, he contacted US-based Samuel Chu of the Hong Kong Democracy Council about follow-up action after Li met four United States Republican senators as a representative of the “Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong” (SWHK) alliance.

The alliance, which comprised Hongkongers campaigning for democracy, allegedly received financial support from Lai through two companies under the tycoon’s control.

Li, a defendant turned prosecution witness, referred to a document titled “Profiles of Perpetrators of Human Rights and Democracy Abuse in Hong Kong”, which named the individuals and organisations that had allegedly condoned, instigated, aided or facilitated human rights violations during the crackdown on anti-government protests that year.

West Kowloon Court heard the proposed targets ranged from then-Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and former security chief John Lee Ka-chiu, who succeeded Lam, to Executive Council members, senior police officers and the management of MTR Corporation, the city’s rail operator.