Jimmy Lai says he didn’t think at first national security law would be ‘end’ of Hong Kong

Ex-media boss also denies saying that he believed his arrest would trigger foreign intervention

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Two women look at a banner publicising the national security law on Albany Road, Central. Photo: Felix Wong

Published: 9:00pm, 5 Dec 2024Updated: 11:17pm, 5 Dec 2024

Former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has conceded he was “too optimistic” to have once believed in Hong Kong’s future as a financial hub under the national security law, while dismissing “presumptuous” allegations that he foresaw his arrest would trigger foreign intervention.

Lai, 77, also said on Thursday he did not believe the central and local authorities would spare him from prosecution despite promises that the Beijing-imposed legislation would not be applied retroactively to penalise past offensive conduct, including his calls for Western sanctions.

His defence ended its questioning of Lai, who gave evidence at West Kowloon Court for the 11th day in his high-profile trial, on his conduct before the national security law took effect on June 30, 2020.

The founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily tabloid newspaper has denied two conspiracy charges of collusion with foreign forces under the national security law, as well as a third count of conspiracy to print and distribute seditious publications in breach of colonial-era legislation.

The court’s attention was drawn to a series of text exchanges between Lai and ex-publisher Cheung Kim-hung, who previously turned prosecution witness after pleading guilty to conspiracy to collude with foreign forces in 2022.

The former media owner appeared nonchalant on the new law, which it was claimed would not have any retrospective effect.