Jailed Media Tycoon Denies Calls for Sanctions
Jailed media mogul Jimmy Lai has vehemently denied making any indirect calls for sanctions on Hong Kong following the implementation of the Beijing-imposed national security law in 2020. Lai, who celebrated his 77th birthday last Sunday, appeared before three handpicked national security judges on Monday as part of a landmark trial against him and three companies, including the defunct newspaper Apple Daily, which he established in 1995.
Lai faces two charges of conspiring to collude with foreign forces under the security law and a third count of conspiring to publish “seditious” materials under colonial legislation. He has been in detention since December 2020 and has faced previous convictions related to fraud and unauthorized demonstrations.
During the trial on Monday, Lai’s defense team examined his communication records with his aide Mark Simon, senior staff of Apple Daily, and former newspaper columnist Simon Lee. These messages were extracted from chats that occurred shortly after the national security law came into effect on June 30, 2020.
According to Lai, Lee was reluctant to continue managing his Twitter account after the security legislation was passed. Despite Lee’s agreement to assist Lai in drafting and editing his tweets until a replacement could be found, no one was willing to take on the task until the account was ultimately shut down in December 2020.
Challenges Faced by Lai During the Trial
Lai’s barrister, Steven Kwan, presented Lai with a video published on July 6, 2020, where he discussed the national security law with online political commentator Simon Lau. The media mogul expressed concerns about how people’s behavior would change after the law was enacted, noting that individuals might have to “do things not directly” and live in fear of being reported to the authorities. Lai emphasized that the legislation would restrict his actions and make him feel “suffocated.”
Kwan pressed Lai on whether he had indirectly called for sanctions or concealed such calls following the law’s enactment, to which Lai responded with a firm “No.” Lai explained that advocating for foreign sanctions after the law’s implementation would have been “suicidal.”
Lai’s Personal Reflections and Legal Defense
During Monday’s hearing, Lai revealed that his personal assistant, Simon, had expressed reservations about his acceptance of media interviews after the passage of the national security law. Lai acknowledged the need to be cautious about his statements to avoid violating the new legislation, leading him to consult his wife before agreeing to media interviews.
Kwan presented an article written by Lai on July 5, 2020, where the tycoon expressed feeling threatened by the national security law and the warnings he received from friends about being careful. Lai emphasized the challenges of facing the “lawless Chinese Communist Party” and the unpredictable nature of navigating such circumstances.
Lai maintained that he had no intention of inciting hatred against the Chinese government or seeking unlawful changes to Hong Kong’s political structure through his writings. He also clarified that he did not encourage others to disobey the law.
As the trial was adjourned to the following day, Lai’s legal team continues to defend him against the charges brought forth under the controversial national security law imposed by Beijing. Stay tuned for further updates as the trial unfolds.
