Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai gave HK$1.5 million to back worldwide ad campaign to pressure city government during 2019 unrest, court told
- Paralegal Wayland Chan explains his links to Lai, his right-hand man Mark Simon and activist Andy Li at West Kowloon Court
- Prosecutors allege Li was given instructions by Lai through Chan designed to try and trigger international sanctions against Hong Kong and mainland China
Lee put him in touch with Simon who said his boss was prepared to provide “all kinds of help” to publicity campaigns of that kind.
“He said I wasn’t the first one to approach them but, because of my eloquence, they were willing to collaborate with me,” the witness said.
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The tycoon agreed to lend up to HK$5 million and made advance payments of HK$1.5 million to the group.
Chan added Lai also gave permission to the group to pay in arrears if they decided to advertise in his Apple Daily tabloid newspaper.
The court heard advance payments were made to The Guardian in the UK, The Washington Post in America and three news organisations in France and Italy using LAIS Hotel Properties and Dico Consultants, both private companies controlled by Lai.
Chan facilitated communications between Simon, a former US naval intelligence analyst, and Li, who was responsible for managing the activist group’s finances.
Chan said Li, who was also the Telegram chat group’s administrator under the alias “rip”, was ecstatic to hear that Lai had agreed to help.
The paralegal recounted his first meeting with Simon at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Central in July 2019.
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He said Simon “heaped praise” on the advertising campaign and told him Lai was very satisfied with its impact.
Chan added Simon believed the activist group should build on its success and organise similar campaigns, as well as exhibitions, about its lobbying efforts.
He said Lai was happy to support the group with financial backing, personal connections and media influence.
Chan added he revealed to Simon he wanted to start a personal business and discussed the difficulties he had encountered in trying to open a Hong Kong bank account for an offshore company.
“He said it should not be difficult and that he could help me, and I should take it as a reward to myself,” Chan said.