Taiwan Apple Daily 'was a way of beating clampdown'

Eunice Lam

Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying launched a Taiwanese version of Apple Daily because he was convinced that Beijing wanted to take over Taiwan, the court heard yesterday on the 88th day of his national security trial.

That emerged as the prosecution resumed playing interview clips after the court had adjourned on Monday as the 76-year-old wasn't feeling well.

In a June 18, 2020, YouTube interview clip, Lai began by recounting the 1995 launch of Apple Daily in Hong Kong, which went on to become the biggest media company in the SAR.

Lai decided to establish Apple Daily in Taiwan to increase his influence in the Hong Kong newspaper industry and as a way of getting around Chinese government's suppression of the SAR paper.

Lai said he was baptized by Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, a bishop who has retired, and that they became good friends.

When asked if he was involved in the 2014 Umbrella Movement, Lai laughed and said: "Yes, but we eventually failed."

He added Beijing had by then controlled election matters in Hong Kong, such as disqualifying candidates.

He said after the national security law came into effect that people could be charged with crimes such as collusion and subversion. Although the trials may not be held in the mainland, Lai said they showed Chinese laws took precedence over local laws and the Basic Law.

Lai also said as of June 2020, he had been arrested thrice due to the 2019 protest and must abide by bail conditions, including a ban on leaving Hong Kong.

Whenever relatives visited him, they would be followed and threatened.

Lai acknowledged he stood a high chance of being sent to prison but said authorities had made too "big of a deal" of his role.

There are also 2 hours of video in which Lai did not appear but was mostly sent to him by Hong Kong Watch founder Benedict Rogers via WhatsApp.

High court judge Alex Lee Wan-tang questioned their relevance, and the prosecution said they showed Lai's connections.

After playing the clips, the court will hear a readout of 10 pages of admitted facts agreed by both sides, with the prosecution expected to finish its case tomorrow.

In one of the videos, Rogers spoke during a march held by Hongkongers in the United Kingdom and called on London to fulfill its responsibilities under the Sino-British Joint Declaration and launch sanctions against China.

He also demanded the withdrawal of then SAR chief executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor's honorary fellowship at Wolfson College of the University of Cambridge.