Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai wanted to convince radical protesters to show restraint as chaos, damage had ‘ruined picture’, court told

Media mogul had proposed a ‘purification scheme’ seeking to de-escalate violence that had gripped the city, prosecution witness Wayland Chan says
Prosecutors alleged that Lai gave instructions to activists of a global lobbying group via Chan to instigate economic sanctions and other hostile acts from the West

Jimmy Lai trial

Brian Wong

Published: 9:20pm, 15 Apr 2024

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Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying tried to convince radical protesters to exercise restraint, fearing the damage and chaos caused during the 2019 social unrest would dampen US support, a court heard on Monday.

Paralegal Wayland Chan Tsz-wah recounted his first face-to-face encounter with Lai during a lunch meeting in July 2019, saying the mogul proposed a “purification scheme” seeking to de-escalate violence that had gripped the city over a now-withdrawn extradition bill since June.

Chan turned prosecution witness after pleading guilty to conspiracy to collude with foreign forces in 2021.

The Jimmy Lai trial so far: daily updates on his Hong Kong national security case

Prosecutors alleged that Lai gave instructions to activists of a global lobbying group via Chan to instigate economic sanctions and other hostile acts from the West against Hong Kong and mainland China.

The 76-year-old tycoon has pleaded not guilty to two conspiracy charges of collusion with foreign forces under the Beijing-decreed national security law, and a third of conspiracy to print and distribute seditious publications.

West Kowloon Court heard Lai sought a dialogue with frontline protesters and told Chan during the meeting to put him through to them.

“He specifically asked me to see whether I could get in touch with ‘valiant’ leaders, as [he felt] the valiant camp had ruined the picture,” Chan recalled.

He said he believed Lai was referring to the widespread damage caused to public facilities during the unrest, adding the mogul feared Hong Kong was losing international support, particularly from Washington, because of the radicals.

The founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily tabloid also hoped to assist protesters using his media presence to achieve what they otherwise could not, the witness said.

But the paralegal said he turned down Lai’s request by highlighting the difficulties in ascertaining whether a protester was affiliated with the “valiant” side.

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The court heard the lunch was held at a Japanese restaurant in Central run by the younger brother of ex-opposition lawmaker Albert Ho Chun-yan, with veteran democrat Martin Lee Chu-ming also present.

Anthony Chau Tin-hang, for the prosecution, sought to explore the degree of Lee’s participation in the tycoon’s scheme, but Chan said he only recalled the Democratic Party founder telling him to try some sashimi.

Chan on Monday also gave an account of Lai’s involvement in a series of newspaper exhibitions and street booths between August and October of 2019 designed to promote global publicity campaigns in support of the Hong Kong protests.

He said Lai’s right-hand man, Mark Simon, had reimbursed him with HK$30,000 (US$3,830) after he had spent that amount on one exhibition in a Central tenement building.

Jimmy Lai is taken away by police officers after a raid on his newspaper office in 2020. Photo: Winson Wong

The witness added he received HK$144,100 from Lai by cheque for similar events held in other local neighbourhoods and Taiwan.

The court heard that Lai and Simon, who previously worked for US naval intelligence, were of the view they should ride the momentum of the overseas advertising campaigns and further the cause of the protests with a different approach.

Chan said Simon had organised related exhibitions in the United States and had advised him and activist Andy Li Yu-hin, a core member of the “Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong” advocacy group, to set up an office or “lobbying centre” on Capitol Hill to give Americans “a taste of Hong Kong”.

Prosecutor Chau said Simon had all along been fully aware of Li’s various commitments, a proposition the witness agreed with.

Chan also described Simon as a “grumpy” man who often complained about Li’s belated requests for financial help in the group’s advocacy campaigns.

“But in terms of ability, he held Li in very high regard,” the paralegal added.

The trial continues on Tuesday.

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