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

Jimmy Lai trial

Brian Wong

Published: 3:28pm, 8 Mar 2024

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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.

Apple Daily published ‘grey area’ articles in sanctions bid, Hong Kong court told

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.

The witness earlier testified that commentaries published on Apple Daily had to be consistent with the views and political stance of Lai, who he said had become “radical” after Trump initiated a trade war with China in 2018.

Prosecutor Ivan Cheung Cheuk-kan on Friday asked Yeung to explain the stances adopted by various Apple Daily writers, including two former chairmen of the Democratic Party, the city’s largest opposition group.

Jimmy Lai is being tried on two conspiracy charges of collusion with foreign forces and a third of conspiracy to print and distribute seditious publications. Photo: AP

Cheung referred to articles in May 2020 penned by Martin Lee Chu-ming about “the rise and fall of the rule of law”, and Wu Chi-wai, who suggested Hong Kong would undergo a catastrophic cultural revolution after national security legislation was passed by Beijing.

Yeung said Democratic Party founder Lee had advocated what he called the “original interpretation” of the “one country, two systems” governing principle, adding the veteran democrat had also “expressed concerns” about the national security law, which was imposed on the city by Beijing in June 2020.

Lai, 6 others had no excuse to join illegal 2019 march, Hong Kong top court rules

Lee’s successor, Wu, appeared more radical in his articles written in 2019 and 2020, Yeung said, adding that “he supported resistance and sanctions against Carrie Lam”.

Prosecutor Cheung also highlighted an article by commentator Koo Tak-ming in July 2020, where he claimed he was forced to discontinue his column in Apple Daily in fear of prosecution under the Beijing-imposed legislation.

Yeung said Koo’s articles often cited historical events to accuse authorities of being a “dictatorship” and conducting alleged human rights abuses.

The trial continues on Monday.

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