Judges question Jimmy Lai's credibility over US Human Rights Act discussion

Judges raised doubts against Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying after he told the court on Thursday that he didn’t discuss the United States’ “Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act” during meetings with US government officials in 2019.

During the 124th day of the 77-year-old Lai’s national security trial at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court, the prosecution inquired about a meeting between Lai and Senator Rick Scott in Hong Kong Mid-Levels on September 29, 2019. 

Before the meeting, Lai had asked his assistant, Mark Simon, for the name of the “Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act,” leading the prosecution to suggest that Lai had convinced Scott to support the act in the Senate.

However, Lai claimed he could not recall the specifics of the discussion and said he didn’t pay attention to the act. 

This prompted skepticism from national security judges Susana Maria D’Almada Remedios and Esther Toh Lye-ping, who questioned why Lai would mention the act in conversation with Simon.

Lai said that he wanted to be prepared in case the act was brought up during the meeting. 

In October 2019, he traveled to the US and met with several politicians, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Despite Simon sending Lai documents related to the “Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act” and the “PROTECT Hong Kong Act,” Lai maintained that he had no interest in either. 

Judge Remedios expressed doubt, noting it seemed unconvincing that Lai would disregard these acts while simultaneously calling for US support in Hong Kong affairs.

Lai countered that he believed the acts lacked substantive impact, regarding them as merely academic discussions. 

“Nobody [would] follow up; a bill [is] passed and that’s passed and that is forgotten,” Lai said.

(Eunice Lam)