Jimmy Lai denies instigating US move to revoke Hong Kong’s special economic status

But court hears former media boss messaged right-hand man to say it was ‘right’ to force Beijing to meet Washington’s demands

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Jimmy Lai tells the court he never communicated directly with Mary Kissel or other US government staff to avoid causing them “inconvenience”. Photo: AFP

Published: 3:44pm, 11 Dec 2024Updated: 7:09pm, 11 Dec 2024

Former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has denied instigating a US government move to revoke Hong Kong’s special economic status in 2020, but said Washington was “right” to do so as a way to compel Beijing to “come to terms” with America’s demands.

Lai said on Wednesday he did not initially think it necessary for the US to rescind Hong Kong’s trade privileges as he felt the city would be “finished anyway” after Beijing’s imposition of the national security law.

But he later changed his mind and said he believed that punishing Hong Kong – China’s window to the outside world – would be beneficial to Washington.

Lai returned to the witness box for a 15th day in his high-profile trial at West Kowloon Court, as he explained his thoughts on foreign governments’ responses to what he saw as Beijing’s encroachment on Hongkongers’ fundamental freedoms after the 2019 anti-government protests.

The founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily tabloid has denied two conspiracy charges of collusion with foreign forces and a third count of conspiracy to print and distribute seditious publications.

The court heard Mary Kissel, who was an assistant to then US secretary of state Mike Pompeo, approached Lai through his right-hand man, Mark Simon, after noting the former media boss’ remarks on US-Hong Kong relations.