Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Tycoon Jimmy Lai Denies Foreign Collusion in National Security Trial

Nov 20, 2024, 09:29 AM

Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai took the stand for the first time in his national security trial on Wednesday, testifying that he had never tried to influence overseas governments’ foreign policy on Hong Kong or China. Lai, who has been detained since late 2020, faces charges of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and publishing seditious materials. He dismissed the idea of advocating for Hong Kong's independence from China as 'crazy' and emphasized that his now-defunct newspaper, Apple Daily, represented the 'core values' of the city's people. The trial, which began in December 2023, has been ongoing for more than 90 days, and Lai's testimony is seen as a critical moment in a case that could see him imprisoned for life if convicted.