By South China Morning Post | Created at 2024-11-22 02:21:24 | Updated at 2024-11-22 08:52:28
6 hours ago
This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Get faster notifications on the latest updates by downloading our app.
Former Hong Kong media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying will continue his testimony on Friday in his high-profile national security trial, with his lawyers expected to question him on a series of allegedly seditious articles published by his now-defunct Apple Daily tabloid.
Lai has pleaded not guilty to 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 in relation to Apple Daily.
He revealed on Thursday that he had received “internal” information from someone who had access to then US president Donald Trump’s administration on Washington’s decision to sanction Hong Kong officials, but denied asking a former senior executive of the tabloid to prepare a further list to propose names of those to be sanctioned.
The court heard Lai had forwarded the confidential message to multiple friends, from ex-lawmakers to the chairman of a now-dissolved alliance that used to organise the city’s annual candlelight vigils to mark the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown.
Lai also denied inciting hatred against authorities through three commentaries he wrote for Apple Daily.
He said he was simply “projecting” that had a now-withdrawn extradition bill been passed in 2019, which would have enabled the transfer of fugitives to mainland China, the city’s rule of law would have descended into rule of man.
He added it was lawful for him to call on readers to join peaceful demonstrations.
Asked whether he felt the storming of the Legislative Council complex by radical protesters in July 2019 constituted “serious violence”, he replied: “I would not say it’s serious violence because nobody was hurt, you know, nobody’s life was in danger, but it was serious violence because of damages of properties and also it overrode the law illegally.”
Defence lawyers are expected to question Lai for three weeks, before prosecutors begin their cross-examination.
See more from our coverage:
