Hong Kong’s Apple Daily published articles in ‘grey area’ of law to promote sanctions, former top aide of Jimmy Lai tells court

Yeung was asked to explain Apple Daily’s stance on foreign sanctions and its selection of contributors as the high-profile trial entered its 40th day.

Lai, 76, is being tried on two conspiracy charges of collusion with foreign forces and a third count of conspiracy to print and distribute seditious publications.

Ivan Cheung Cheuk-kan, for the prosecution, highlighted a special edition of the tabloid’s forum section in July 2020, titled “Hong Kong on the International Chessboard”, which featured three commentaries about the Hong Kong Autonomy Act signed by then US president Donald Trump.

Yeung said the three purported analytical pieces in fact demonstrated the authors’ support for the United States’ initiative.

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Mr Justice Alex Lee Wan-tang, one of three judges presiding over the hearing, suggested Apple Daily was wandering in the twilight zone. The witness agreed.

Cheung also referred to an allegedly offensive article published the same month by a US-based Chinese commentator, only known by his pen name Yi Jian Piao Chen, which purported to examine the likelihood of sanctions on then Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor by the Trump administration.

Yeung said the critique was an example of “playing with the edge” as the author implicitly expressed his support for the then president’s move.

He said another example was an article written in August 2020 by late political pundit Lee Yee, who took an ironic view on officials who claimed to have no fear of US sanctions.

The article, titled “Nightwalker Whistles in the Dark”, was published on Apple Daily’s website and featured a picture of former chief executive Leung Chun-ying, who was seen smiling with his face partly darkened by a shadow, alongside a quote from Lee.

Cheung took issue with the webpage’s design but did not explain why his side found it offensive.

Yeung said Lai also recommended the newspaper engage veteran journalist Allan Au Ka-lun due to his eloquent writing style and critical views on the national security law.

Au subsequently became a columnist and provided at least four allegedly seditious articles to the tabloid between July 2020 and May the following year, prosecutors said.

Jimmy Lai, at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre, was a “generous but cruel” boss, a witness says. Photo: Winson Wong

The witness also recalled then editor-in-chief Ryan Law Wai-kwong asking him to run articles by wanted political activists Samuel Chu and Nathan Law Kwun-chung, but only work by the latter was published.

Asked to explain Lai’s approach at Apple Daily, Yeung described the tycoon as a “generous but cruel” boss who was happy to distribute his wealth to his employees, but would “burn his people out” and not hesitate to fire those not up to their jobs.

He likened Lai’s employment strategy to “shaking the tree”.

“Be it the management or mid-level supervisors, if they wanted to stay at Apple, they had to listen to their boss and do their work in a proactive manner,” the ex-editorial writer said, adding Lai had no official position in the newsroom.

“I wanted to stay at Apple, so I had to follow his instructions.”

The trial continues on Friday.

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Apple Daily санкция закон продвижение прошеный бывший помощник зеленый Джимми Лай статья зона