Activists named in HK tycoon’s trial deny claims
Several overseas activists, right campaigners and politicians named in a national security trial for Hong Kong democrat Jimmy Lai refuted allegations levelled by a government prosecutor in court that they colluded with him.
Lai, 76, founder of now-shuttered pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily and a leading critic of the Chinese Communist Party, faces two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces — including calling for sanctions against Hong Kong and Chinese officials — under a China-imposed national security law. He is also charged with conspiracy to publish seditious publications.
Before the trial opened, a supporter shouted “hang in there” to Lai, as he sat inside a glass dock surrounded by prison guards.
Prosecutor Anthony Chau yesterday presented dozens of news clippings of Apple Daily, including news reports of a speech by Lai and commentaries that were critical of China.
Chau also cited Apple Daily interviews with frontline prodemocracy activists and antigovernment advertisements.
Chau had earlier accused Lai of conspiring with activist Andy Li, paralegal Chan Tsz-wah, exiled activist Finn Lau, Britain-based rights campaigner Luke de Pulford, Japanese politician Shiori Yamao, US financier Bill Browder and others to lobby foreign countries for sanctions. Some rejected these allegations.
“Jimmy had nothing whatsoever to do with any of my work on Hong Kong at all. But Jimmy’s case isn’t about truth. It’s about delivering Beijing’s narrative,” said Luke de Pulford, the head of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, on X.
IPAC, a group of over 300 lawmakers in 33 countries, condemned attempts to implicate several of its members in the “sham” trial and said in a statement it was an “unacceptable infringement of the rights of foreign citizens”.