Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai denies making appeal for hostilities against Beijing

Former media boss also pushes back against suggestions he advocated for greater US military presence in South China Sea

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Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai in 2020. The former media boss took to the witness box for the 18th day in his ongoing national security trial. Photo: Edmond So

Published: 8:09pm, 17 Dec 2024

Former Hong Kong media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has denied indirectly appealing to foreign governments to conduct hostile activities against mainland China by claiming its economy would be “dead” if foreign investors backed out over the prospect of US sanctions.

Lai on Tuesday also pushed back against suggestions he had advocated for a greater US military presence in the South China Sea or closer ties between Washington and Taiwan to resist Beijing.

But he maintained that America’s return to the Asia-Pacific could reduce the risk of conflict in the region.

The founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily tabloid took to the witness box for the 18th day at West Kowloon Court, as he sought to justify comments he made in the “Live Chat with Jimmy Lai” online broadcast series after the national security law took effect in June 2020.

The 77-year-old has denied two conspiracy charges of collusion with foreign forces and a third count of conspiracy to print and distribute seditious publications.

The show, in which Lai shared his political views with mostly overseas guests, was broadcast on Apple Daily’s website between May and December of 2020.