Jimmy Lai maintains UK had ‘moral responsibility’ towards Hongkongers

Lai also dismisses contention he advocated for American interference, saying he does not want war between mainland China and Taiwan

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Jimmy Lai attends a pro-democracy rally near the Hong Kong government headquarters on September 28, 2014. Photo: AFP

Published: 6:52pm, 18 Dec 2024

Former media owner Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has maintained the British government had a “moral responsibility” to offer citizenship to Hongkongers, while denying the move constituted a hostile response to Beijing’s imposition of the national security law on the city.

Lai on Wednesday also dismissed a contention that he advocated American interference with his comments on closer US-Taiwan ties in a live broadcast interview, adding he did not want a full-scale war between mainland China and the self-ruling island.

The founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper was testifying at West Kowloon Court for the 20th day in his marathon national security trial. The 77-year-old stands accused of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and of publishing seditious materials.

Lai, in an episode of the online broadcast series “Live Chat with Jimmy Lai” dated September 10, 2020, appeared to praise the United Kingdom’s decision to suspend its extradition agreement with Hong Kong and grant the right of abode to millions of British National (Overseas) passport holders from the city.

British political activist Benedict Rogers, who appeared on the episode as a guest, said he expected “other measures” to follow “in the months to come”, adding his nation should “lead the international community on this”.

In reply, Lai appealed to “our old colonial government” to take up the “moral responsibility” of drawing other governments’ attention to Hong Kong “at this time of disaster”.