‘I was insensitive’: Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai on videos calling for sanctions

Lai tells court he failed to vet Apple Daily videos that sought US support in 2020 as he had other priorities

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Jimmy Lai, 77, is contesting two conspiracy charges of collusion with foreign forces and a third of conspiracy to print and distribute seditious publications. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:10pm, 11 Feb 2025Updated: 9:27am, 12 Feb 2025

Ex-media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has acknowledged being “insensitive” for failing to vet two videos published on Apple Daily that were fronted by a now-fugitive calling for US sanctions against Hong Kong and Beijing before the imposition of the national security law.

Judges grilled Lai on Tuesday over his position that he was initially unaware of the video content by fugitive Elmer Yuan Gong-yi, who had held a strong stance against the mainland Chinese government.

Both videos were aired on the now-defunct Apple Daily’s digital platform and social media accounts in May and June 2020, respectively.

Yuan made two videos addressing the US president and the secretary of state in which he asked for foreign troops to be stationed in the city while calling for sanctions against Hong Kong and mainland officials.

Lai insisted that he merely allowed Yuan to use the digital platforms, but West Kowloon Court heard evidence suggesting that the ex-media boss not only encouraged his senior staff to give the businessman more airtime but also provided Yuan with the studio to film the second video, after the first attracted much public attention.

Lai, 77, is contesting two conspiracy charges of collusion with foreign forces and a third of conspiracy to print and distribute seditious publications.