Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai thought his arrest would boost global attention, sales of Apple Daily, court hears

Paralegal Wayland Chan tells court Lai’s right-hand man Mark Simon had discussed with him impact of mogul’s arrest on efforts to instigate foreign intervention in Hong Kong affairs
Chan said Simon felt road ahead was ‘very tough’ as businessmen and politicians in West began cutting ties with Lai

Jimmy Lai trial

Brian Wong

Published: 7:13pm, 24 Apr 2024

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Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying believed his arrest under the national security law was a good thing as it could attract international attention and boost the sales of his now-defunct Apple Daily tabloid newspaper, a key prosecution witness has told a court.

Paralegal Wayland Chan Tsz-wah said on Wednesday Lai’s right-hand man Mark Simon had discussed with him the impact of the mogul’s arrest in August 2020 on their efforts to instigate foreign intervention in Hong Kong affairs.

Chan said Simon, who previously worked for US naval intelligence, felt the road ahead was “very tough” as businessmen and politicians in the West began cutting ties with Lai.

“It was a huge blow to us,” the accomplice witness told West Kowloon Court. “Because without Jimmy Lai, we might no longer be able to get insider information from the US government, and we might lose all our political connections in the US and beyond.”

Jimmy Lai stands accused of masterminding an anti-China campaign by pulling the strings behind SWHK to instigate sanctions and other hostile acts against Hong Kong and Beijing. Photo: AP

Chan added Lai’s connections in the United States had made it much easier for the “Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong” (SWHK) advocacy group to push for economic sanctions against Hong Kong and mainland China.

But Chan said Simon took a different view on the matter upon discussion with Lai, who felt his arrest also had its benefits.

“Both of them felt it was a good thing, as this would draw more people’s attention and Apple’s sales would increase,” the witness said, referring to Lai and Simon.

Defence counsel Marc Corlett expressed concerns over the veracity of Chan’s claim about the tycoon’s thoughts. Madam Justice Esther Toh Lye-ping, who is among three judges hearing the trial, also pointed out what Lai reportedly told Simon was hearsay.

Lai stands accused of masterminding an anti-China campaign by pulling the strings behind SWHK to instigate sanctions and other hostile acts against Hong Kong and Beijing.

The 76-year-old tycoon also allegedly used Chan as a middleman to relay his instructions to frontline activists, including core SWHK member Andy Li Yu-hin.

‘Jimmy Lai opted to continue sanctions bid after Hong Kong security law took effect’

Lai pleaded not guilty to two conspiracy charges of collusion with foreign forces and a third count of conspiracy to print and distribute seditious publications.

Chan on Wednesday explained his attempts to broaden his personal network per Lai’s advice after the national security law took effect on June 30, 2020.

He said he had tried to approach Alan Brinker, then a US consulate staff worker in Hong Kong, as he prepared to take over Li’s role to lobby foreign officials for sanctions.

Chan revealed SWHK members had repeatedly urged Li to leave Hong Kong out of fear their personal information would be leaked to police if the activist was arrested.

Li insisted on remaining in the city despite an offer to work for an NGO in the US, the witness said.

Lai’s assistant Simon also told Chan about a backup plan in the event of Li’s arrest, which involved Finn Lau Cho-dik, a campaigner based in Britain, delivering speeches at American universities to promote anti-China strategies.

The court heard Chan also joined the US branch of SWHK in June or July of 2020 with the recommendation of Lai and Simon to further the group’s causes.

Jimmy Lai plotted mainland China’s political collapse, Hong Kong court hears

Chan recounted an occasion where Simon explained why both he and Lai favoured US Republican politicians over their Democratic rivals.

Simon told Chan the Republican Party adopted a more consistent anti-China policy and was more inclined to impose sanctions against the Hong Kong and Chinese governments, the court heard.

The witness was also allegedly told the US Democratic Party had sought China’s cooperation on issues including the economy, environment and climate.

“That was unfavourable to our China implosion objective,” he told the court.

But Simon suggested that SWHK build up relationships with Democratic politicians anyway as the party was hoping at the time to expand its network in Hong Kong beyond established student leaders, including those from the now-disbanded Demosisto group, it was alleged.

Chan said SWHK’s US branch, led by astrophysicist Shirley Ho, followed Simon’s advice and sought to influence Washington’s assessment of Hong Kong by feeding officials with negative portrayals of the city.

The paralegal was first arrested in October 2020 on suspicion of assisting Li’s failed boat escape to Taiwan.

He said that after he was released on police bail, Simon encouraged him to continue his lobbying work nonetheless by telling him Lai would make “arrangements for various support” for him, including a plan to escape to the US.

Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai backed 2020 unofficial primary election, court hears

Chan said his last conversation with Simon came in November 2020 when the latter told him about Lai’s plan to resign as Next Digital chairman over a problematic Apple Daily report that claimed the son of Joe Biden, who was then running for US president, had dubious business dealings with China.

The witness added he did not make a response as he “did not care” about Lai at the time.

Chan is expected to be cross-examined by the defence when the trial resumes on Thursday.

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