Andy Li tells of hookup with Japanese, UK lawmakers

Activist Andy Li testified yesterday that the pro-independence group "Fight for Freedom, Stand With Hong Kong" pledged to support a "humanity bill" drafted by former Japanese lawmaker Shiori Yamao.

Li, 33, a witness for the prosecution in the national security trial of Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying who was one of 12 activists caught trying to flee to Taiwan in August 2020, said he had been invited to a Signal chat group created by Luke de Pulford, the commissioner of the British Conservative Party's human rights commission. The group's purpose was to discuss the possibility of imposing sanctions on Beijing and Hong Kong officials.

On the 52nd day of the trial, Li said he traveled to Japan in January 2020 at Yamao's invitation and met her in Tokyo, accompanied by two Hongkongers residing there, Cheung Yik-ching and an individual known as Village Head.

Initially, Li intended to introduce Yamao to a Japanese version of the "Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act" drafted by Cheung. But Yamao presented her own draft of a "Human Rights Act." Both parties agreed to support Yamao's version and that her team would try to gain support of her fellow lawmakers. The move was put on hold due to the pandemic.

Li also confirmed he had been communicating with Pulford on Telegram since January 11, 2020. This communication began after SWHK initiated an election observation mission to monitor the Hong Kong district council elections in November 2019, with Pulford being a member of the mission.

In their conversation, Pulford expressed a belief that Li should be involved in politics, to which Li responded by saying that they were strategically leveraging power from outside the political sphere.

When asked about the significance of being "deliberately not in politics" by national security judge Esther Toh Lye-ping, Li said that staying outside of politics gives one more flexibility without the need to adhere to any party's stance.

Pulford added Li to the Signal chat group, whose other members included Joey Siu Nam, the former vice president of City University's student union, and "Dimon" and "Natalie," who lobbied in the United States and Canada respectively.

Pulford emphasized the critical nature of the movement and urged group members to communicate their message more clearly to the international community.

On January 21, 2020, Li shared a suggested sanctions list prepared by SWHK with the group. However, no further discussion or follow-up took place.

The prosecution also inquired about SWHK's crowdfunding campaign in May 2020. Li said he did not participate due to concerns his involvement may lead to suspicion of money laundering and the freezing of his bank accounts.

The funds raised were stored in a "Project Hong Kong" trust account. Li said SWHK still had about US$690,000 (HK$5.4 million) from a past crowdfunding campaign.

The hearing resumes tomorrow.