Lai directed meeting with Taiwan, court hears

Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying instructed the then-Taiwan Apple Daily publisher, Chen Yue-shing, to arrange a meeting between members of the "Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong" group and Taiwanese government officials, paralegal Chan Tsz-wah yesterday testified on the 64th day of Lai's trial.

Chan, 32, said Lai forwarded him a message sent to Chen, expressing the desire to establish contact with Executive Yuan member Audrey Tang Feng and the Taiwanese government-funded General Association of Chinese Culture. However, Chan clarified that neither he nor the members of "Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong" had the opportunity to meet these officials.

On the same day, Lai shared a news article related to the National People's Congress promulgating the national security law with Chan. Concerned for Lai's and politician Martin Lee Chu-ming's safety, Chan expressed his worries to Lai. But Lai in response stressed the commitment to the fight for freedom, said Chan.

Chan explained that Lai instructed them to call for international sanctions, while Lai himself urged the international community to confront the SAR government.

Chan believed that "Lai would be the authorities' primary target for arrest under the NSL."

Chan also said that Lai's assistant, Mark Simon, suggested that activist Andy Li Yu-hin - who was caught trying to flee to Taiwan in August 2020 - should join the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China on behalf of "Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong."

During a meeting at Next Digital's headquarters in Tseung Kwan O on June 16, 2020, Chan expressed concern about promoting international sanctions in light of the NSL. However, Lai believed the law was more symbolic than impactful and insisted on continuing to call for sanctions.

On July 12, 2020, Chan thanked Lai for his involvement in the pro-democracy primaries, saying that it was remarkable in Hong Kong's history. Chan revealed that he was one of the few individuals who knew that Lai had suggested the plan for it.