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Fiona Chow

Former Hong Kong media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has denied intending to incite violence among radical protesters when he urged them to set up a leadership team, saying he instead wanted the frontline faction to set out some basic principles for its actions.
Lai on Tuesday defended an opinion piece published in the now-defunct Apple Daily tabloid newspaper in which he appealed to the “valiant” protester group to establish a leadership structure so it could filter out infiltrators who were keen to pursue violence in the 2019 social unrest.
Prosecutor Anthony Chau Tin-hang said Lai’s piece, which was titled “There is hope only if we persevere”, not only failed to condemn to violence but also suggested an arrangement that would help the protests against the government to continue.
Lai said Chau had misinterpreted the article, which was published on December 22, 2019.
“By saying they should choose a leadership group, [it means that] they should put down some principle or bottom line for the valiant acts which, basically, is for them to stop the violence,” the Apple Daily founder said.
Lai, 77, is contesting two conspiracy charges of collusion with foreign forces and a third of conspiracy to print and distribute seditious publications.
In another news article published on October 9, 2019, a protester was interviewed about changing from supporting a peaceful movement to becoming more radical.
The interviewee described first being “scared to break the law” before becoming “not even scared of death”, blaming the government as the reason that protesters were “forced to evolve” in their actions.
Lai said the article did not represent the stance of the newspaper, nor did it signify that he personally agreed with the views of the interviewee.


He maintained a similar stance when questioned by Chau about a separate interview on the “Dragon Slaying Brigade”, a well-known group formed by protesters from the valiant faction who appealed to residents to support a citywide strike.
The former media boss said his newspaper was simply showing what “a small faction” of people thought at the time.
“That is the sentiment, [although] that’s a bit crazy,” he said.
The prosecutor also said Lai had tried to downplay the damage caused by the protesters who stormed the Legislative Council building on July 1, 2019.
Lai gave an interview to the Foundation for Defence of Democracies, a United States think tank, in the same month and described the damage as “small”.
Chau suggested Lai did not want to lose international support so he had to tone down the reality of the violence.
Disagreeing with the claim, Lai replied: “The violent acts were not intentional. [The protesters] were there [in Legco] as a symbolic gesture to protest against the government.”
He said no valuable items were damaged, but noted glass at the entrance of the building was shattered and the wall of the chamber was spray-painted.
The trial continues on Wednesday.


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Hong Kong

Law and Crime

Former media boss says Apple Daily op-ed that called for leadership team was simply to help radical protesters set basic principles


Former media boss says Apple Daily op-ed that called for leadership team was simply to help radical protesters set basic principles.


Jimmy Lai denies inciting violence among ‘valiant’ Hong Kong protesters in 2019

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Former media boss says Apple Daily op-ed that called for leadership team was simply to help radical protesters set basic principles

Former media boss says Apple Daily op-ed that called for leadership team was simply to help radical protesters set basic principles