Apple Daily reprinted 2019 protests publication due to overwhelming demand: Chan Pui-man

Now-defunct Apple Daily printed more copies of a publication centered around the 2019 protests to meet the demands of readers after the very first batch had swiftly sold out, the newspaper’s associate publisher Chan Pui-man said on Thursday. 

Today was the fifth day Chan testified against Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, 76, at West Kowloon Court as the trial entered the 26th day. 

The prosecution first submitted the publication titled: “Freedom 2019 Summer” to the court and the judges said it looks more like a magazine after assessing the design and material. 

The cover page is designed using a number of anti-extradition bill movement slogans, including the “Five demands, not one less” and others that called for universal suffrage as well as condemning police brutality. 

The English edition of the publication also came with the slogan “Punish Killers with Voters” as the prosecution earlier acknowledged that the district council election was held on November 24 that year. 

Chan said she recalled that the publication was not distributed to the public for free. The cover page clearly states that each copy costs HK$10 and all revenue generated was to be donated to the 612 relief fund after recovering the costs. 

When asked why the publication was printed three times, Chan said the booklets were all sold out and there was a demand for a reprint. After management had learned of the overwhelming demand, former publisher Cheung Kim-hung gave the re-print order. 

Chan also confirmed the publication recorded all major social events from June 9 to September 16, 2019, adding that Apple Daily had reported the same events. She continued that not all photos inside were taken by Apple’s photographers; some were purchased from outside sources or obtained online. 

The prosecution then said Apple pushed an app notification on October 6, 2019, that readers could register and enjoy the Chinese and English e-book versions for free. Chan responded that the e-book transformation was carried out by colleagues from the digital team. 

Chan also said Lai requested her to draft questions related to Hong Kong’s situation for his lobbying trip to Washington in October 2019. 

One of the question read: “Can the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act really sanction dirty police, Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee and Junius Ho Kwan-yiu?” 

Chan then explained the U.S. was mulling to pass the act and the figures mentioned in the question were on whom protesters wished to impose sanctions. 

The prosecution also displayed two photos from Lai’s phone; one showing Lai alongside then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and another showing Lai with Republican Senator Ted Cruz, former Chief Secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang, former lawmakers Dennis Kwok Wing-hang and Charles Mok. 

Chan Pui-man confirmed that Cruz visited Hong Kong before the act was passed in November 2019, and Apple had reported this.