Hong Kong opposition activist Agnes Chow backed Japanese sanctions against city, witness tells Jimmy Lai trial
- Prosecution witness Andy Li explains to court how Japanese equivalent to the US Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act came about in early 2020
- Li says a Japanese lawmaker proposed a sanctions bill after suggestions by Hong Kong group, with Agnes Chow backing it in a video message
The prosecution witness said that then Japanese lawmaker Shiori Kanno had proposed a sanctions bill as a counter-suggestion to an idea by the “Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong” (SWHK) advocacy group, in which Li was a core member.
Li, a programmer turned activist, recalled a gathering in the summer of 2020 organised by a group of Japanese legislators and Japan-based Hongkongers to drum up public support for Kanno’s proposed bill.
“At that event, Agnes Chow in a video message in effect offered support for it,” Li told West Kowloon Court.
“She thanked [the Japanese people] and wished Japan would continue to express their concerns for Hong Kong.”
The US’ Democracy Act was signed into law in November 2019, paving the way for punitive measures against those deemed to have undermined Hong Kong’s autonomy.
‘Hong Kong activist Agnes Chow, group involved in global anti-government push’
Prosecutor Anthony Chau Tin-hang on Monday pointed to two emails Li sent to three Japanese MPs in April 2020 where he expressed his views on the matter.
“The bill allows for appropriate responses to be made to human rights issues around the world, especially the human rights condition in areas around Japan,” the activist told lower house member Takashi Takai.
“I think it will be able to instigate discussions on the democratic movement in Hong Kong, the chaos caused by the novel coronavirus and human rights in Japan.”
Li told the court foreign sanctions were designed to achieve deterrence. “If you don’t want to be penalised, then don’t do it,” he added.
The court heard de Pulford told the group in January 2020 that the city’s political movement was “at a critical juncture”.
“For loads of reasons, I think the obstacles preventing you from speaking more clearly into the international community must be overcome,” said the Briton, who jokingly called himself an “interfering foreigner”.
‘Lai’s tabloid ran articles to promote US sanctions after Hong Kong Autonomy Act’
A member called Dimon, said to be a Hongkonger living in the US, later asked whether fellow participants could contact a “Darren Mann” and give him the names of “top-ranked Hong Kong policemen who must be sanctioned”.
Li told the court Mann was a surgeon who had previously provided first aid to frontline protesters on a voluntary basis.
He said he could not recall the details about the discussion apart from the doctor’s intention to identify some targets for sanctions.
The prosecutor referred to a proposed action plan published on the campaign’s online platform, which suggested that if the donations received surpassed US$1.75 million, the group could reserve a certain sum for “more strategic projects” such as setting up “Hongkonger cultural offices” and “citizen-centric House of Commons” overseas.
Li confirmed the proposal was relevant material of the crowdfunding initiative and said Lau and other activists had hoped to better utilise the donations to “broadly support events concerning Hong Kong’s democracy and freedom”.
The trial resumes on Wednesday.
