The trial of Hong Kong Tycoon and Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai reached day 32 on, Feb. 26. The prosecutor presented to the court one item published in August 2020 by the now-defunct Apple Daily, which mentions that former U.S. President Donald Trump praised Jimmy Lai as a “Brave Man,” as evidence for Lai’s prosecution.
The case of Mr. Lai and Apple Daily, charged with “conspiracy to collude with foreign forces” and “conspiracy to publish seditious materials” under the Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL), was held at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on Feb. 26.
The prosecution’s second witness, the former Apple Daily Executive, Chan Pui-man, also under charges, testified in court.
Until now, Mr. Lai, and Ms. Chan, who had been detained for more than three years and two and a half years, respectively, were escorted to the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts Building in prison vans. The courthouse was heavily guarded by armed anti-terrorism officers at the entrance, and there were around a hundred police officers inside and outside the courtroom, indicating high-security measures.
Ivan Cheung Kwok-keung, the lead prosecutor, presented to the court articles and tweets published by Apple Daily since August 2020. The content includes Donald Trump calling Jimmy Lai a “brave man.”
Why Trump Praised Lai
On Aug. 10, 2020, Mr. Lai was detained on suspicion of contravening the NSL promulgated in Hong Kong by Beijing in June 2020. Nearly 40 hours later, he was released and returned to the office building, where he was greeted by employees holding flowers. He took the chance to encourage his employees to persevere.
Agree With Jimmy Lai’s Basic Values of Freedom and Democracy
During Monday’s court hearing, the prosecution still focused on the circumstances surrounding Mr. Lai’s arrest and release between August 2020 and his remand in December of the same year.During the trial, Ms. Chan, former Associate Publisher of Apple Daily who had pleaded guilty earlier, said that she had visited Mr. Lai in prison. Mr. Lai did not mention changing the direction of Apple Daily’s reporting. She confirmed that she continued to work in accordance with Jimmy Lai’s views and ideas.
When asked whether Mr. Lai used electronic means such as Signal, WhatsApp, Slack, and emails to change the way in Apple Daily’s reporting during his bail period, she answered “No.”
Pre-trial Detention, NSL Overriding Common Law
Mr. Lai has been detained for more than three years since his bail was revoked in December 2020. The case was eventually heard starting Dec. 18, 2023. This practice of pre-trial detention confirms that the NSL implemented by Beijing in Hong Kong overrides the “common law” that has long been practiced in Hong Kong.Mr. Lai actively supports the democratic movement in Hong Kong. During the public rallies such as the opposition to Article 23 legislation in 2003, the Umbrella Movement in 2014, the Anti-extradition Movement in 2019, as well as commemorations of the June 4th Tiananmen protest in Beijing and various Hong Kong protests, the publications under Next Media Group strongly supported the pro-democracy camp. Mr. Lai himself also participated in many protest activities during those times.
Although Mr. Lai’s anti-communist stance had been crystal clear, he also realized this position might bring trouble for the newspaper. According to a former Apple Daily employee, the company believed that things such as reporting on the CCP’s “organ harvesting” was “too sensitive.” Therefore, it was made clear that the paper would not report it.
