Jimmy Lai didn’t see havoc caused by protesters an issue, says Cheung Kim-hung

Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying believed it was not a big deal that protesters wreaked havoc in shops, and he would think youngsters were courageous and committed to the social movement in 2019, Apple Daily’s former publisher Cheung Kim-hung said. 

Today was the fourth day Cheung, now a prosecution witness, testified against Lai, 76, as the trial entered the 14th day. 

Cheung said Lai’s interpretation of “brave” focused on protesters’ actions. Cheung continued that Lai sometimes went to demonstrations and saw protesters destroying shops in the street and he “won’t see this as an issue.” 

“He believed the teenagers were fearless and committed to the social movement,” Cheung added. 

The former publisher also recalled that then US President Donald Trump signed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act in November 2019 to stop supplying ammunition to Hong Kong police. 

Lai welcomed the sanction and would think Trump was a man of actions and not just full of words, Cheung noted. 

The prosecution also displayed Apple Daily’s front page on November 19, 2019, with a banner that read: “Support students to read Apple Daily.” 

Cheung explained that Lai threw huge support to students to come out and protest and praised them for “sacrificing themselves to protect their home.” 

Since many students were not financially capable to subscribe to Apple Daily, the scheme was introduced for citizens to donate to students aged 10 to 22 so they can read the paper for free. 

Cheung said Lai was extremely devoted in the second half of 2019, participating in every protest and flying flags at the front of the crowds. 

Cheung also said Lai had been encouraging citizens to take to the streets to condemn police brutality. He further said the editorial department worked in accordance with the instructions and directions given by Lai and the staff cannot say no.

Cheung added that Lai suggested and directed the so-called "One Hongkonger One Letter to Save Hong Kong" campaign in 2020, which appealed to the public to write a signed letter to Donald Trump and invite him to impose sanctions on China and relevant personnel.

He said Apple Daily provided the letter template on its web and front page, while readers just had to sign their name before sending it to Trump via Twitter, Facebook, and email.

The prosecution displayed the letter template that was published on the paper's front page, with content stating that "Only through international pressure will the Chinese Communist Party ever reconsider this disastrous course of action" and "We now need both your public support and the diplomatic efforts of the United States to help keep our city a center of international trade and home for freedom."

(Updated at 17.11)