Activist tells Lai trial of government-in-exile plan

Activist Andy Li Yu-hin testified on the 56th day of Jimmy Lai's national security trial, revealing discussions of establishing a "government-in-exile" overseas and gradually leaving Hong Kong.

Li said that he had these discussions with Chan Tsz-wah, a paralegal who is known for his extensive network of connections and referred to by protesters as the son of Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying.

Li, 33, one of the "12 fugitives" who was caught while attempting to flee to Taiwan in August 2020, continued to testify as a prosecution accomplice witness yesterday.

According to Signal chat records between Li and Chan on July 23, 2020, they considered the need for a "front person," a prominent political figure who could establish the government-in-exile abroad in a legitimate manner.

They mentioned several exiled activists, including Ray Wong Toi-yeung, Simon Cheng Man-kit, and Brian Leung Kai-ping, as potential candidates for the role.

However, they also discussed the possibility of taking up the role themselves, although no consensus was reached before Li's arrest on August 10, 2020.

When asked by the national security judge Alex Lee Wan-tang about the reasons behind considering a government-in-exile, Li said: "It was necessary to stand up against the regime controlled by the Chinese Communist Party in order to prevent Hong Kong from being further controlled."

On the day of Lai's arrest, Li asked Chan about removing Chan's account from the Telegram group chat of the pro-independence advocacy group Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong.

However, Chan had rejected the suggestion, assuring Li that it was unnecessary. Chan had informed Li that his Telegram account was the same one suspected by SWHK members to be Jimmy Lai's son due to their close ties.

During the trial, the prosecution presented documents seized from Li's computer. Among them was a press release from SWHK dated August 4, 2020, titled "United Kingdom Parliament member's report confirms Hong Kong Police used violence during demonstrations."

Another press release from the UK Parliament's all-party group was titled "APPG Inquiry Report Reveals Hong Kong Tolerated the Abuse of Humanitarian and Medical Workers."

Li said he received these press releases from SWHK members, but did not participate in the APPG's inquiry report.

Additionally, the documents included an "Investigation Report of Potential Sanction Targets for Hong Kong Human Right Democracy Act," which listed 30 individuals in various categories, including Hong Kong Executive Council, Chinese officials, Exco members, Hong Kong Police Force, and Pro-Beijing Media.

The report called on foreign countries to pass the Hong Kong Human Rights Democracy Act and the Magnitsky Act.

Li also shared a list of 12 disqualified lawmakers from the Legislative Council election in late July 2020 with British human rights activist Luke de Pulford. Pulford informed Li that the list had been uploaded to the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China website.

eunice.lam@singtaonewscorp.com