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Hong Kong media tycoon and founder of tabloid Apple Daily Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s trial began on December 18, 2023. He is being prosecuted under the national security law and a colonial-era sedition legislation. Lai faces three conspiracy charges relating to sedition and collusion with foreign forces.
As the city’s “trial of the century” attracts unprecedented interest both here and overseas, justice must not only be done, but be seen to be done.
Weaponising human rights and interfering with other people’s judicial systems are par for the course for the Five Eyes nations and their media allies.
With the world watching, the national security case involving former Hong Kong media tycoon has to be heard fairly and with respect shown to judges by all parties.
- Royston Chow, former Next Digital chief financial officer, says it was not ‘very common’ for shareholder to lend substantial amount of money to company such as Lai’s
- Next Digital logged profit of more than HK$2.1 billion between 2001 and 2011 before recording continuous losses from 2015 to June 2021
Court told by ex-Lai executive that control of British Virgin Islands-based firm was given to Wayland Chan, a former member of an anti-government campaign group.
Prosecution witness Wayland Chan says Jimmy Lai steered passage of US Hong Kong Safe Harbour Act to allow residents at risk of persecution to seek asylum in US.
Court of Appeal finds judiciary does not have authority to review decision by national security committee to bar King’s Counsel Timothy Owen from defending Lai.
Paralegal Wayland Chan says SWHK advocacy group member Andy Li sought his help following his arrest four years ago.
Wayland Chan tells Jimmy Lai trial he lied about links to ‘Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong’ group to protect himself and friend Andy Li.
City authorities hit back at European Union’s lawmaking body after members also call for sanctions against Chief Executive John Lee, as well as other officials.
Wayland Chan admits he lied when he told police that Lai’s right-hand man instructed him to cease lobbying efforts after implementation of national security law.
Paralegal Wayland Chan tells court Lai’s right-hand man Mark Simon had discussed with him impact of mogul’s arrest on efforts to instigate foreign intervention in Hong Kong affairs.
Apple Daily founder believed legislation imposed in 2020 was ‘all bark and no bite’ after being urged to consider his personal safety, key prosecution witness says.
Paralegal turned prosecution witness Wayland Chan says Apple Daily founder shared plan to influence foreign governments during meeting in Taipei in January 2020.
Lai trial told his blessing of localist candidates could increase opposition chances of winning control of Legislative Council.
Key prosecution witness says Jimmy Lai told him US wanted no police or civilian fatalities and that violence should stop at some point of the protest campaign.
Media mogul had proposed a ‘purification scheme’ seeking to de-escalate violence that had gripped the city, prosecution witness Wayland Chan says.
Activist turned prosecution witness Andy Li tells media mogul’s defence lawyers about unsuccessful escape attempt to Taiwan in late August 2020.
Andy Li tells court he had no direct contact with Apple Daily founder before or after Beijing-decreed national security law took effect in June 2020.
Activist turned prosecution witness Andy Li exchanged messages with middleman linked to media tycoon, discussed opposition camp’s future after 2020 security law.
Customs chief Ho Pui-shan says department will also provide training so officers can better detect materials that endanger national security.
Andy Li, a defendant turned prosecution witness, tells court emergence of ‘political crimes’ in Hong Kong justified his efforts.
Court hears UK politician Luke de Pulford approached Lai about publicising launch of Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China.
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.
Two draft proposals were sent to Japanese lawmaker Takashi Takai, one targeted human rights abuses in Hong Kong, while other addressed such concerns in general.
SWHK alliance prepared sanctions list targeting more than 140 individuals that paved way for US penalties against those deemed to have undermined city’s autonomy, detained activist Andy Li tells court.
Lai trial told ‘Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong’ lobby group asked US and UN to take action against mainland China and city.
Group advertised in various British publications calling for then-incoming PM Boris Johnson to hold China to its commitments made on Hong Kong, witness says.
Jimmy Lai trial hears lobbying group paid more than £75,000 to two British consultancy firms to help develop network of UK parliamentarians.
Witness Andy Li says Agnes Chow helped place an advert in Japanese newspaper as part of initiative to urge overseas governments to take action against Hong Kong administration.
Prosecutors alleged Lai was the mastermind and anonymous financier of the ‘Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong’ group.
Lai’s legal team says Apple Daily selected articles with common political perspective to accommodate readers but witness Yeung Ching-kee denies outlet’s approach was purely commercial.
Now-defunct tabloid published three commentary articles in special column titled ‘US-China Conflict Escalates’, four days after Autonomy Act was enacted, ex-editorial writer Yeung Ching-kee says
