Jimmy Lai pushed for US bill granting refugee status to Hongkongers, called for sanctions, key witness tells court

Media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying pushed for the passage of a US bill to grant refugee status to Hongkongers and set up live interviews with overseas political pundits in a bid to trigger international sanctions, even after the national security law took effect four years ago, a court has heard.

Prosecution witness Wayland Chan Tsz-wah, a paralegal, told West Kowloon Court on Monday that Lai had steered the passage of the Hong Kong Safe Harbour Act, a bipartisan bill that would allow Hongkongers at risk of persecution under the Beijing-imposed 2020 national security law to seek political asylum in the United States.

Chan also argued the tycoon had “continued to speak out” by hosting online series “Live Chat with Jimmy Lai”, which he used to “set an example” to those who were still striving for sanctions and other hostile acts, despite the risks involved after the national security law came into force.

The defendant turned accomplice witness admitted he had no knowledge or recollection of the content of the programmes, apart from the fact that he watched one episode on an unknown date.

He said Lai had called for sanctions in at least one article published after the national security law came into force in June 2020, but added his belief was based on a social media post sent to him which he had never read in detail.

Chan was responding to inquiries raised by three judges hearing the high-profile trial after the prosecution and defence filed their questions on the 70th day of proceedings.

He earlier told the court he connected Lai to activists of the “Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong.” (SWHK) lobbying group, in which the tycoon allegedly pulled the strings from behind the scenes to trigger China’s “implosion” – the nation’s political and economic collapse – through international actions.