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A witness describes his links to tycoon Jimmy Lai and others during the trial of the owner of the now-closed Apple Daily newspaper on conspiracy charges. Photo: AP
Hong KongLaw and Crime

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
Hong Kong courts
Brian Wong
Why you can trust SCMP
Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying made advance payments of HK$1.5 million (US$191,494) to help pay for a 2019 global advertising campaign designed to put pressure on the city’s government as he felt the plan was “fully in line with” his political stance, a court has heard.
Wayland Chan Tsz-wah, a paralegal, on Friday explained to West Kowloon Court his links to Lai, his right-hand man Mark Simon, and activist Andy Li Yu-hin, the most prominent of the 12 Hongkongers arrested by mainland authorities in August 2020.
Prosecutors alleged 76-year-old Lai had given instructions to Li through Chan on various occasions which were designed to trigger international sanctions and other hostile acts by the West against Hong Kong and mainland China in the wake of the 2019 anti-government protests.
The mogul has denied two conspiracy counts of collusion with foreign forces under the Beijing-imposed national security law and a third of conspiracy to print and distribute seditious publications under colonial-era legislation.
West Kowloon Court hears prosecution witness Wayland Chan tell of his links to tycoon Jimmy Lai, who was said to have backed an ad campaign designed to put pressure on the government. Photo: Felix Wong
Chan, who turned prosecution witness after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to collude with foreign forces in 2021, said he tried to contact Lai in June 2019 when a group of anonymous activists needed a bridging loan to pay for newspaper adverts during that year’s Group of 20 (G20) summit in Japan.
The group launched a crowdfunding campaign but could not put the donations to use immediately for administrative reasons, the court heard.
Chan approached veteran democrat Martin Lee Chu-ming using a phone number given to him in a public Telegram chat and told him the group estimated they needed HK$3 million to pay publication expenses.

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.

“[He said] this initiative was fully in line with their political stance, and through this event they hoped the government would respond to residents’ demands.”

Hong Kong activist told to flee to UK after receiving bail, Jimmy Lai trial hears

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.

Hong Kong activist considered creating government-in-exile, Jimmy Lai trial hears

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.

The trial continues on Monday.
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