Third accomplice witness, Yeung Ching-Kei, begins testifying in Lai trial

Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has instructed management to invite more writers from overseas to contribute articles for the tabloid after the implementation of the national security law, a former senior employee told Lai’s national security trial on Monday.

The court heard Yeung Ching-Kei joined Apple Daily as a senior reporter in 1997, before moving up the ranks to become the tabloid’s lead opinion writer. Yeung, known under the pen name Li Ping, was responsible for publishing editorials for Apple Daily, as well as other opinion articles.

Yeung, as an accomplice witness, said on his first day of testimony that he had met Lai personally at work and had previously attended the “lunchbox meetings”.

He told the court that during a meeting on July 17, 2020, Lai had instructed him to invite more writers from overseas to contribute articles for his section dedicated to commentary and opinion pieces, after he told Lai he had failed to find enough writers for it.

When asked by the prosecution the reason behind the move, Yeung said people from overseas were less concerned about the national security law and would be more forceful in their criticism or opinions against the SAR government.

Yeung also told the court that Lai generally gave instructions during the meetings for the senior management to follow up, rather than exchanging views.