Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai admits Apple Daily was ‘too radical’ towards authorities

But former media boss tells court he believes he and his tabloid ‘on the right side of history’

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Jimmy Lai has told a court he advised his editorial staff to adapt to “changing circumstances” after the implementation of the national security law. Photo: Reuters

Published: 3:41pm, 16 Dec 2024Updated: 6:33pm, 16 Dec 2024

Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying admitted his now-defunct tabloid newspaper had been “too radical” towards Beijing and Hong Kong authorities, adding he required editorial staff to be “more creative” in covering sensitive topics after the city’s adoption of the national security law.

Lai, 77, also told his high-profile trial on Monday he believed he and Apple Daily stood “on the right side of history” and that they would eventually be vindicated without a direct confrontation with those in power.

On the 18th day of his oral testimony at West Kowloon Court, Lai was asked to respond to a series of remarks he made after he was arrested and detained for more than 40 hours for questioning by national security police in August 2020.

Lai said in an interview with his tabloid that he had no regrets even if he was eventually thrown into prison, vowing that Apple Daily would “hold on until the end” and that he would accept any potential consequences.

He was also quoted as advising Apple Daily staff to “be a bit more prudent and be a bit more creative in doing things”.

Lai denied in court he had encouraged his newspaper to continue its operation in an illegal manner under the national security law, saying it had to adapt to “changing circumstances”.