Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai instructed senior Apple Daily staff to "vindicate" protesters who stormed the Legislative Council complex on July 1, 2019, by trying to make people who accused the protesters reflect on their own actions, the court heard yesterday.
The trial of 76-year-old Lai, in its 25th day, continued with former associate publisher Chan Pui-man, 53, testifying as a prosecution witness.
Prosecutors showed WhatsApp chat records between Lai and Chan in the early hours of July 2, 2019, in which Lai asked if the printed version that day would focus on opinions of youngsters, to "gain public understanding and support and help them get vindication."
Lai added: "Our job in the next two days is to spread such a sentiment, and make it the public consensus."
Chan said the daily's reporters had been reporting the incident as a controversial news event of young protesters storming Legco building .
But after Lai had given instructions, Chan said she felt reporters became motivated by the need to gain public support for the 2019 protests.
The daily printed a second edition on July 9, 2019, to include an article about a meeting between Lai and then US secretary of state Mike Pompeo.
She said Lai's US visits were aligned with his political stance of having foreign countries put pressure on the SAR to meet the demands of protesters.
Chan also recalled that she had participated in Lai's "lunchbox meetings" around 2019, during which Lai not only talked about his personal views on current events and political issues, but also set out editorial policies for Apple Daily.
Lai particularly urged management to come up with in-depth reports on anti-extradition law news, such as the way police handled protesters.
The prosecution also said Lai's assistant Mark Simon had sent messages to Chan for the first time in August 2019.
On August 26, Simon told Chan that he could source US gear such as helmets, respirators and protective clothing for Apple Daily reporters.
Chan also said Lai had instructed Apple Daily staff to assist political parties in designing their 2019 district council election posters, which she said "happened occasionally."
