Jimmy Lai offered to sponsor and nurture ‘brother laam chau’ into political star, court hears

Jimmy Lai Chee-ying had offered to sponsor £10,000 (~HK$97,516) and provide the necessary political network to nurture activist Finn Lau Cho-dik – better known as “brother laam chau” – into a political star, only for the latter to turn down the offer, the court heard on Friday. 

Today marked the 63rd day of the Jimmy Lai trial as the prosecution continued to examine the fifth accomplice witness – paralegal Chan Tsz-wah for the fifth day. 

Chan said the offer was tabled by Lai during a meeting with Lau and a female protester surnamed Lam in a mansion in Yangmingshan, Taipei in January 2020. Yet, Lau rejected and said: “I don’t want to be a political star.” 

Lai also said it was more important to acquaint with prominent people that were “under the table”, like political advisors or those responsible for planning national strategies, according to Chan. 

Lai continued that some low-ranking officials may have known some democrats when they were young and may rise to senior government position some 10 to 20 years later. These relations would then be very beneficial when it came to international lobbying for anti-China policies, including sanctions. 

Chan said Lai mentioned the goal in the long run should be obtaining international recognition for them to take actions and impose sanctions as well as to pressure the Hong Kong government. Lai also believed that the pro-democracy camp should bring together different pieces of puzzles, like civil councils, overseas organizations, street alliances and business people dealing internationally. 

The goal was to achieve the “burst of China”, Chan said. When asked what this term meant by the prosecution, Chan said the term could be interpreted as the collapse of the Chinese authority and economy. 

Chan added that Lai had proposed a four-step plan to achieve this goal. The plan included explaining Hong Kong’s situation to other countries; calling on foreign governments to condemn the Hong Kong government; bringing back opinions of foreign government officials; and meeting with overseas politicians to affect their China policies and to ultimately promote sanctions targeting Hong Kong and China. 

Chan also recalled Lai had asked if Lau would run in the pro-democracy camp’s primary election for the 2020 Legislative Council election. Lai further said he could help political newbies gain media exposure and support them financially. 

Chan noted that Lau met Shih Ming-teh, former chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party, on the third day of his Taiwan trip and Shih advised Lau to consider three elements before organizing mass campaigns in the future; they were recognition, unity, and a clear political demand. 

Shih also reminded Lau not to think he could evade the consequences for his actions when speaking of the road of a political prisoner. Shih said it might be better if Lau returned to Hong Kong and got arrested because he would then receive support from the public and jailed protesters. 

The trial continues next Tuesday.