Jimmy Lai worried soft content would dilute the impact of English Apple Daily: Cheung Kim-hung

Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai had refused the suggestion of adding soft articles themed culture, food, and traveling into the English edition of Apple Daily, saying the move would dilute the impact of raising foreign concerns and discussions, former publisher Cheung Kim-hung said on Thursday. 

Today marked the sixth day of Cheung's testimony as a prosecution witness against Lai whose trial entered its 16th day at West Kowloon Court. 

Cheung recalled that the suggestion of adding articles surrounding themes like food, culture, and traveling was first proposed by Fung Wai-kong, the English edition’s former editorial writer and editor-in-chief, who found there was too little content apart from sanctions and protests. 

Cheung said he then met Lai who stated that the goal of establishing the English edition of Apple Daily was to produce “pro-yellow camp” news articles as well as those in support of the newspaper in order to raise global concerns and spark discussions. 

Lai had said, “Adding featured content into the English edition would dilute the whole thing,” according to Cheung 

According to WhatsApp records displayed by the prosecution, Lai had also messaged Fung an English article titled: “Republicans say Biden ‘Good for Iran and ISIS, Great for China’”. He asked: “Do we need news like this that is irrelevant to China? Especially all other major English news outlets have reported.” 

Although Fung believed that the English edition should be a more all-rounded news channel and provide more diverse news content, Lai said: “I don’t think such news is necessary because no matter where the readers are from, their local news media will report on them. 

“I think we should focus on news about China which lead us to fame. [Our news] should not be diluted,” Lai added. 

Cheung also said Lai allowed “yellow shops” to publish advertisements on Apple Daily for free to push the “yellow economic circle”. The scheme stopped in early 2020 due to Covid-19 and resumed in mid-2020. 

The court also heard from Cheung that Lai allowed overseas activists, accused of breaching the national security law, to send their articles to Apple Daily.

Lai hoped that Apple Daily could serve as a platform for them to speak out but wouldn’t pay them for the incoming articles so as to avoid being accused of financing fugitives.

Cheung said he paid several prison visits after Lai was arrested in December 2020, and Lai instructed him to stay with the original editorial directions for Apple Daily with "no fears."

Cheung said he then referred Lai's messages to the editorial team of the paper and added that Lai still keeps up his spirit and encouraged the team not to be scared by his arrest.

(Updated at 3.29pm)