Former editorial writer says he could get fired for not choosing articles matching with Apple Daily’s stance

Former Apple Daily editorial writer Yeung Ching-kee testified on Tuesday that he could have been fired by Jimmy Lai Chee-ying if he insisted on using articles that didn’t adhere to the newspaper’s political stance, which he described as a “birdcage democracy”. 

Today was the seventh and last day Yeung appeared at West Kowloon Court as a prosecution accomplice witness as Lai’s trial entered its 43rd day. 

The defense displayed text messages from December 10, 2020, that showed Yeung asking Japanese commentator Masaharu Takahashi to run a commentary piece on the news that Japan might sanction former CE Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor to prohibit her from opening bank accounts or freeze her assets. 

Takahashi replied that he firmly believed that Japan wouldn’t sanction Lam and asked how Yeung wanted him to run the commentary piece. 

Yeung told the court he usually wouldn’t interfere with the writers’ choice of topic and had told Takehashi that he could choose how to write or not write anything at all. Still, he admitted that “I had, in fact, interfered with his topic and warned him that if he didn’t adhere to Apple Daily’s stance, I may need to find a new writer.” 

Yeung continued and said: “If I insisted on using articles that didn’t adhere to Apple Daily’s stance, I would be the one who got fired,” adding that there were previous examples. 

During re-examination by the prosecution, Yeung said he had some complex feelings about editorial independence. “I have been in the media industry for some 30 years and have worked for five newspapers and TV stations. I feel like after the rise of the internet and fall of traditional media, editorial independence has almost become a myth. 

“That is because media [organizations] have their own stance in order to attract a certain audience.” 

Yeung used the term “birdcage democracy” to describe Apple that reporters and editors had a certain level of freedom and independence that must not exceed the framework and directions laid out by Lai, saying the term could apply to other newspapers as well. 

Yeung also recalled that during dinner at Lai’s home on June 23, 2020, Lai said he wasn’t concerned about being arrested as it would only be further proof of China and Hong Kong’s crackdown on human rights and freedom of press. 

His arrest would also draw the attention of the US, UK and other members of the EU which would then impose sanctions and help improve the human rights condition in Hong Kong. 

Yeung also confirmed that Lai had mentioned the word “sanction” when questioned by the defense but admitted that he didn’t jot down any notes, and he was only recalling the scene from his memory. 

The trial continues tomorrow (Wed) and will see the fourth accomplice witness Andy Li Yu-hin testify in court.